(chài) - Ragged clothing & tattered garments

Tone 4

chài | 10 strokes | radical:

· chài

Ragged clothing;

tattered garments;

worn-out clothes.

Ragged clothingtattered garmentsworn-out clothes.

Usage highlights

ragged clothestattered garmentswornshabby appearancethreadbare conditiontattered sleeves

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He wore ragged clothes (袃衣).
  • The beggar's tattered garments (袃服) were barely covering him.
  • After years of use, the fabric became worn-out (袃烂).

Collocations

  • ragged clothes(袃衣)
  • tattered garments(袃服)
  • worn-out fabric(袃烂)
  • shabby appearance(袃貌)
  • threadbare condition(袃状)
  • tattered sleeves(袃袖)

Idioms

  • Ragged and torn(袃烂不堪)
  • Tattered clothes and worn shoes(袃衣敝履)
  • Shabby but dignified(袃而不贱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Represents poverty and humble circumstances in classical Chinese literature.
  • Often used to describe the appearance of scholars or hermits who valued knowledge over material possessions.
  • Appears in historical texts describing the clothing of peasants or beggars.

FAQ