裇 (xū) — used in 裇衫 (chènshān, 'shirt') and T裇 (T-xu, 'T-shirt')

Definition

裇 (xū) is not used on its own. It appears only in 裇衫 ('shirt') and T裇 ('T-shirt') as the short form of 衫.

noun
used in 裇衫 (chènshān, 'shirt') and T裇 (T-xu, 'T-shirt')
Measure word · 件
Easily confused

Examples

  • T裇。
    Tā chuān le yí jiàn bái sè T xū.
    He wore a white T-shirt.
  • 裇。
    Zhè jiàn xū shān shì mián de.
    This shirt is made of cotton.
  • T裇。
    Shāng diàn lǐ yǒu hěn duō zhǒng yán sè de T xū.
    The store has T-shirts in many colors.

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
衤Written in full as衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
血
血xuè裇
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

裇 pairs 衤 (clothing, from 衣) with 血, which gives the sound.

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