衣

yī

clothes, clothing; cover, skin

Meaning

  • Primary: Clothing or clothes. In early texts (Zhou through early Han), it specifically denotes the upper garment (robe, wrap, or torso covering).
  • Extension: Any outer layer that encapsulates an object, such as sheaths, rinds, or skins.

Grammar and usage

  • Primarily used as a noun or attributive.
  • Metonymy: In compounds (e.g., 衣冠 "clothes and cap"), the glyph can represent public identity, social standing, decorum, or propriety rather than physical items.

Distinctions

  • 衣 vs. 裳: 衣 refers to the upper garment, while 裳 refers to the lower garment/skirt. Together they constitute a full set of attire.
  • 衣 vs. 服: 衣 typically refers to the physical object or fabric; 服 often emphasizes the act of wearing (verb), dress associated with rank/office, or ritual requirements.

History and forms

  • Variant U+8864: A paleographic variation that does not signal a change in meaning, though it may indicate specific scribal traditions or periods in early manuscripts.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.