Meaning
This is a common verb phrase meaning to wash clothes or do laundry. It combines the verb 洗 (to wash) with the object 衣服 (clothes). This is one of the most basic daily life activities taught to Chinese learners and is used exactly as you would expect when talking about cleaning clothing.
Usage
Used in everyday conversation to describe the household chore of washing clothes, whether by hand or machine. Native speakers use this naturally in contexts like dividing household duties or explaining what they did or need to do. The phrase can take various aspect markers like 了, 过, or 着 depending on the situation.
Examples
- 01我每个星期天洗衣服。.I do laundry every Sunday.
- 02你的衣服我已经帮你洗了。.I've already washed your clothes for you.
Characters
Common collocations
- 洗衣服机washing machine (colloquial)
- 洗衣机washing machine (standard)
- 去洗衣服to go do laundry
- 帮忙洗衣服to help wash clothes
Antonyms
Origin
洗 originally depicted hands washing something in water. 衣服 is a compound noun where both characters relate to garments and clothing, with 服 being a bound morpheme that rarely appears alone in modern Chinese.