Chinese word

制服

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhì fú

Meaning

  • noununiform

Example

他上班要穿制服。tā shàng bān yào chuān zhì fú

He has to wear a uniform to work.

Illustration for 制服 (uniform)

More examples

警察身着制服在街上巡逻。jǐng chá shēn zhe zhì fú zài jiē shàng xún luó

Police officers in uniform patrol the streets.

Core concept

A standard imposed from outside, shown by common dress or enforced through obedience.

Common phrases

  • 穿上制服chuān shàng zhì fú

    put on a uniform

  • 警察制服jǐng chá zhì fú

    police uniform

  • 军队制服jūn duì zhì fú

    military uniform

Similar words

校服xiào fú: Clothing that a school requires its students to wear in a standard design.
工作服gōng zuò fú: Clothing made for work that is comfortable and easy to move in.

Definition in Chinese

为表示身份、职务或适应工作和场合而规定统一式样的服装。wèi biǎo shì shēn fèn zhí wù huò shì yìng gōng zuò hé chǎng hé ér guī dìng tǒng yí shì yàng de fú zhuāng

Word origin

The character 制 (zhì, "regulate") sets a rule, while 服 (fú, "clothing; submit") points either to what is worn or to the state of yielding to control.

Usage tips

  • When the word describes an action directed at a person or group, context can give it the meaning of bringing them under control; clothing contexts instead use verbs such as 穿 (chuān, "wear").

Other meanings

  • subjugateverb
  • subdueverb

Opposites

  • 便服biàn fúcasual clothesnoun
  • 便装biàn zhuāngeveryday clothesnoun

Related words

  • 制服化zhì fú huàuniformizeverb

Word lists with this word