Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 衣服 | yīfu | |
| 服裝 / 服装 | fúzhuāng | |
| 衣裳 | yīshang | colloquial |
| 衣著 | yīzhuó | |
| 衣着 | yīzhuó |
The most common and standard term for apparel in Chinese is 衣服. Other terms like 服装 or 衣着 are used to describe clothing in more specific contexts, such as an industry or a person's general appearance.
Which one should you use?
衣服 is the neutral, most common term used in daily conversation for 'clothes'. 服装 is a more formal term that refers to clothing as a category, an industry or a specific ensemble/outfit. 衣着 is a formal term that refers specifically to a person's attire or the way they are dressed. 衣裳 is a more colloquial or old-fashioned way to say 'clothes'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
衣服 is neutral and suitable for most daily situations. 服装 is formal and suitable for professional or industry contexts. 衣着 is formal and used when discussing appearance or attire. 衣裳 is colloquial and often found in literature or specific dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting individual items of clothing, such as a shirt, use the measure word 件 with 衣服. To refer to a complete set of clothes or a suit, use the measure word 套.
How do you pronounce it?
yīfu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Remember that 衣服 is a noun. It cannot be used as a verb to mean 'to clothe' without adding other words to the sentence.
Did you know?
- The character 衣 is a pictograph that originally depicted a robe with sleeves and a collar, mirroring the actual shape of ancient garments.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the color of 衣服 was strictly regulated by rank, with certain colors like yellow reserved exclusively for the Emperor.
- The measure word 件 (jiàn), used for items of clothing, is also used for 'matters' or 'affairs', linking the physical piece of clothing to a conceptual piece of business or an event.
Examples in context
- 把衣服脱掉！Take off your clothes!This sentence shows how to use 衣服 in a command to remove clothing.Tatoeba #4463262 by yuiyu, translation #4466781 by maizewen
- 我買衣服了。I have bought some clothes.This sentence demonstrates using 衣服 to state that one has bought clothes.Tatoeba #6092443 by xjjAstrus, translation #8590678 by easononizuka
- 穿上點衣服。Put on some clothes.This sentence shows the use of 衣服 when instructing someone to put clothes on.Tatoeba #8727933 by shou, translation #5431156 by CK
- 我需要买新衣服。 (Wǒ xūyào mǎi xīn yīfú.)I need to buy new clothes.
- 这家店有很多时尚的服装。 (Zhè jiā diàn yǒu hěnduō shíshàng de fúzhuāng.)This store has many fashionable clothes.
- 把你的脏衣物放进洗衣机。 (Bǎ nǐ de zāng yīwù fàng jìn xǐyījī.)Put your dirty clothes into the washing machine.
- 大号的衣服 (dàhào de yīfú)Clothes in large size
- 蓝色的衣服 (lán sè de yīfú)Blue clothes
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jiayi and Wei are preparing for a trip.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你的衣服准备好了吗？Nǐ de yīfu zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?Are your clothes ready?
- 伟 Wei还没，我还在折衣服。Hái méi, wǒ hái zài zhé yīfu.Not yet, I'm still folding clothes.
- 佳怡 Jiayi快点，我们要出发了。Kuài diǎn, wǒmen yào chūfā le.Hurry up, we are about to leave.
- 伟 Wei好的，我马上收拾好衣服。Hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng shōushi hǎo yīfu.Okay, I'll pack my clothes right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clothes” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
