穿衣服
chuān yīfu
To get dressed in Chinese is 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu).
The phrase 穿衣服 can function as both a continuous action (the process of putting clothes on) and a general description of the act of dressing.
Meaning: to beclothe oneself, to put on clothes (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the verb 穿 (chuān), which specifically means to wear or put on clothes that are worn on the body (like shirts, pants or shoes) and the noun 衣服 (yīfu), which means clothes.
Which one should you use?
While 穿 is used for 'getting dressed' or 'putting on' clothes, it is not used for accessories like hats or glasses. For those, one would use 戴 (dài).
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cantonese speakers often use the phrase 着衫 to mean 'put on clothes' or 'get dressed'.
How do you pronounce it?
chuān yīfu
Did you know?
- The verb 穿 (chuān) is also used to describe 'piercing' or 'penetrating' an object. This linguistic link frames the act of getting dressed as the body passing through a hole in the fabric.
- The word 衣服 originally referred specifically to the 'upper garment' and 'lower garment' as two separate entities before becoming a general term for 'clothes'.
- When counting a single piece of clothing in the context of 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu), you must use the specific measure word 件 (jiàn). This classifier is used specifically for top-wear and general garments.
Examples in context
- 他需要十個小時來穿衣服。He needs ten hours to get dressed.This sentence is useful for describing how much time someone needs to use 穿衣服.Tatoeba #3706762 by egg0073, translation #4736726 by paper1n0
- 穿衣服！Get dressed!This sentence is useful for an imperative command to 穿衣服.Tatoeba #13210532 by LeviHighway, translation #5041859 by Joseph
- 穿衣服。Get dressed.This sentence is useful for a simple statement to 穿衣服.Tatoeba #13210533 by LeviHighway, translation #2111832 by CK
- 早上起床后，请记得穿衣服。After waking up in the morning, please remember to get dressed.
- 他每天花很多时间穿衣服。He spends a lot of time getting dressed every day.
- 我先穿上衣服再出门。I'll get dressed first before going out.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Yuting are preparing to leave for a party.
- 浩然 Haoran你穿衣服穿好了吗？Nǐ chuān yīfu chuān hǎo le ma?Are you done getting dressed?
- 雨婷 Yuting还没，我还在穿衣服。Hái méi, wǒ hái zài chuān yīfu.Not yet, I am still getting dressed.
- 浩然 Haoran快点穿衣服，我们要迟到了。Kuài diǎn chuān yīfu, wǒmen yào chídào le.Hurry up and get dressed, we are going to be late.
- 雨婷 Yuting我知道了，马上就好。Wǒ zhīdào le, mǎshàng jiù hǎo.I know, I'll be ready in a second.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
