Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 毛衣 | máoyī |
| 毛線衣 / 毛线衣 | máoxiànyī |
| 套衫 | tàoshān |
A sweater is a garment worn for warmth. While 毛衣 is the standard term, you may also encounter terms like 羊绒衫, which refers to a specific type of garment made from sheep fluff or cashmere (derived from 羊 sheep, 绒 fluff/down and 衫 clothes).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 毛衣 literally means "wool clothes", consisting of the characters 毛 (wool or hair) and 衣 (clothes or garment). The term 毛线衣 literally means "wool yarn clothes", using the characters 毛线 (wool yarn) and 衣 (clothes).
Which one should you use?
毛衣 is the most common and general term for a sweater. In contrast, 毛线衣 specifically emphasizes the yarn material used to make the garment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
毛衣 is the colloquial term used in everyday speech. For more formal or technical contexts, such as those found in fashion or retail, you can use 套衫.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting sweaters, you should use the specific classifier 件 (jiàn) rather than the general classifier 个 (gè).
How do you pronounce it?
máoyī
Did you know?
- The classifier 件 used for 毛衣 is also used for other items of clothing and for 'matters' or 'incidents'. It conceptually groups things that are separate pieces or individual occurrences.
- The character 衫 in 羊绒衫 is an ancient word for a short jacket or shirt, often associated with traditional robes rather than modern knitwear.
- The term 套衫 (tàoshān) uses the character 套 (tào), which is also the verb for 'to encircle' or 'to wrap around', reflecting the way the garment is slipped over the body.
Examples in context
- 你毛衣穿反了哟。You're wearing your sweater inside out.This sentence is useful for noting that someone is wearing their 毛衣 inside out.Tatoeba #4906077 by musclegirlxyp, translation #51355 by CK
- 她给他一件毛衣。She gave him a sweater.This sentence is useful for describing the act of giving someone a 毛衣.Tatoeba #5640771 by verdastelo9604, translation #887138 by CK
- 那件毛衣不错呀！That sweater is nice.This sentence is useful for expressing that a particular 毛衣 is nice.Tatoeba #12686033 by soueihin, translation #12459436 by CK
- 我昨天买了一件新的毛衣。I bought a new sweater yesterday.
- 这件羊绒衫真舒服！This cashmere sweater is really comfortable!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are shopping for clothes in a mall.
- 俊杰 Junjie这件毛衣多少钱？Zhè jiàn máoyī duōshǎo qián?How much is this sweater?
- 雨婷 Yuting这件毛衣两百块。Zhè jiàn máoyī liǎng bǎi kuài.This sweater is two hundred yuan.
- 俊杰 Junjie颜色有点深，有没有浅色的毛衣？Yánsè yǒudiǎn shēn, yǒu méiyǒu qiǎnsè de máoyī?The color is a bit dark, do you have a light-colored sweater?
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你看，那边有白色的毛衣。Jùnjié, nǐ kàn, nà biān yǒu báisè de máoyī.Junjie, look, there are white sweaters over there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweater” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
