Understanding "熨衣" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 熨衣
• Pinyin: yùn yī
• Literal Meaning: "熨" means "to iron," and "衣" means "clothing." Together, they literally translate to "ironing clothes."
• Primary Meaning: The act of ironing or pressing clothes to remove wrinkles and make them neat.

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

"熨衣" is a common term used in daily life to describe the household chore of ironing clothes. It is often used in contexts like:
- Talking about household tasks (e.g., "I need to iron clothes today").
- Describing a routine activity (e.g., "She irons clothes every Sunday").
- Giving instructions (e.g., "Please iron this shirt").

The word is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Character Breakdown

• 熨 (yùn): This character means "to iron" or "to press." It can also refer to the tool used for ironing, such as an iron ("熨斗" yùn dǒu).
• 衣 (yī): This character means "clothing" or "garment." It appears in many words related to clothing, such as "衣服" (yī fu, "clothes") or "大衣" (dà yī, "coat").

Together, "熨衣" specifically refers to the action of ironing clothes.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 妈妈正在熨衣服。
   Pinyin: Māma zhèngzài yùn yīfu.
   English: Mom is ironing clothes.

2. Chinese: 我每周日都要熨衣。
   Pinyin: Wǒ měi zhōurì dōu yào yùn yī.
   English: I iron clothes every Sunday.

3. Chinese: 你能帮我熨一下这件衬衫吗？
   Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yùn yīxià zhè jiàn chènshān ma?
   English: Can you help me iron this shirt?

Cultural Notes

In Chinese households, ironing clothes is often seen as a necessary task to maintain a neat appearance, especially for formal or work attire. Traditionally, ironing was done with heavy metal irons heated over coal, but modern electric irons are now standard. Some families may still hang clothes to dry in a way that minimizes wrinkles, reducing the need for ironing.

Conclusion

"熨衣" (yùn yī) is a practical term meaning "to iron clothes." It combines the characters for "iron" (熨) and "clothing" (衣). Use it when talking about this common household chore, and remember the example sentences to practice in context. Happy learning!