袖 (xiù) — sleeve; to tuck inside one's sleeve

Definition

Used almost only in compounds or with 子 to mean 'sleeve' — 袖子 is the everyday standalone form. As a verb (袖手), it means to tuck one's hands in one's sleeves (standing by without acting).

bound form

sleeveto tuck inside one's sleeve

Examples

。
Tā chuān zhuó yí jiàn cháng xiù lián yī qún.
She is wearing a long-sleeved dress.
袖，。
Tā xiù shǒu zhàn zài yì páng, bù kěn bāng máng.
He stood by with his hands in his sleeves, refusing to help.
。
Zhè jiàn chèn shān de xiù zi tài duǎn le.
The sleeves of this shirt are too short.

Origin

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothing

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

由yóu袖

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

袖 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 由, which provides the sound.

Appears in

Clothing

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