內衣 / 内衣
nèiyī
The English word "underwear" can be translated into Chinese as 內衣 / 内衣 (nèiyī). If unsure, use 內衣 / 内衣. Wiktionary also lists 襯衣 / 衬衣 (chènyī) and 內衣褲 / 内衣裤 (nèiyīkù).
Meaning: clothes worn next to the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 內衣 / 内衣 | nèiyī |
| 襯衣 / 衬衣 | chènyī |
| 內衣褲 / 内衣裤 | nèiyīkù |
內衣 / 内衣 is the general term for clothes worn next to the skin. In many contexts, it is the standard term used specifically to refer to women's underwear, such as bras or camisoles.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 內衣 / 内衣 is composed of 內 (inner) and 衣 (clothes).
Which one should you use?
While 內衣 / 内衣 can refer to general underwear, 內衣褲 / 内衣裤 specifically combines the words for 'inner clothes' and 'pants' to refer to a set of underwear including both tops and bottoms. In contrast, 襯衣 / 衬衣 is more commonly used to refer to a shirt or an undershirt rather than the general category of underwear.
How do you pronounce it?
nèiyī
Did you know?
- The character 衣 (clothes) is a pictograph that originally looked like a robe with wide sleeves and a collar.
- In many parts of China, the term 內衣 / 内衣 is so strongly associated with women's lingerie that a man using it to describe his own undershirts might cause a moment of social confusion.
- The term 襯衣 / 衬衣 shares a root with the word for 'lining' or 'padding', reflecting its historical use as a protective layer between skin and outer robes.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “underwear” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
