线衣 (xiàn yī) — cotton knit top; cotton knitwear

Definition

noun
cotton knit topcotton knitwear
Measure word · 件

Examples

  • 线衣。
    Zhè jiàn xiàn yī hěn nuǎn huo.
    This cotton knit top is very warm.
  • 线衣。
    Tā zài wǎng shàng mǎi le yí jiàn xiàn yī.
    She bought a cotton knit top online.
  • 线衣，。
    Wǒ xǐ huan chuān xiàn yī, yīn wèi shū fu.
    I like wearing cotton knit tops because they're comfortable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

线xiànthread
衣yīclothing

线 suggests thread and 衣 clothing, together naming a garment made of knitted thread.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →

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