Chinese word

毛衣

Pronunciation

Pinyinmáo yī

Meaning

  • nounsweater

Example

我昨天买了一件毛衣。wǒ zuó tiān mǎi le yí jiàn máo yī

I bought a sweater yesterday.

Illustration for 毛衣 (sweater)

More examples

这件毛衣是妈妈去年送给我的。zhè jiàn máo yī shì mā mā qù nián sòng gěi wǒ de

This sweater was given to me by my mother last year.

Core concept

A knitted upper-body layer that traps warmth and may be pulled over the head or opened at the front.

Common phrases

  • 一件毛衣yí jiàn máo yī

    one sweater

  • 穿毛衣chuān máo yī

    wear a sweater

  • 脱下毛衣tuō xià máo yī

    take off a sweater

Similar words

开衫kāi shān: A knitted upper-body garment that opens in front and closes with buttons or a zipper.
针织衫zhēn zhī shān: An upper-body garment made of soft fabric with a knitted texture.

Definition in Chinese

用毛线或其他纤维编织成的覆盖上身的衣物，通常用于保暖，可以是套头或开襟的款式。yòng máo xiàn huò qí tā xiān wéi biān zhī chéng de fù gài shàng shēn de yī wù tōng cháng yòng yú báo nuǎn ké yǐ shì tào tóu huò kāi jīn de kuǎn shì

Word origin

毛 (máo, "wool or hair") + 衣 (yī, "clothing") combines to name clothing made from wool or similar fibers.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use sweater mainly for a pullover, but 毛衣 (máoyī, "sweater") is a broad Chinese clothing label that can include an open-front style.

Other meanings

  • knitwearnoun
  • pullovernoun

Related words

  • 毛衣衫máo yī shānsweaternoun
  • 毛衣店máo yī diànsweater shopnoun

Word lists with this word