Meaning of 背心
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- sleeveless garment (vest, waistcoat, singlet, tank top etc)
Measure word: 件
How to use 背心
背心 covers many sleeveless tops, from a sports singlet to a knitted vest or a tank top. The measure word is usually 件 (jiàn). Example: 夏天我喜欢穿背心。(Xiàtiān wǒ xǐhuan chuān bèixīn.) I like wearing tank tops in summer.
背心 is made of 背 (bèi, back) and 心 (xīn, heart or chest). A garment that covers your back and your chest but leaves the arms bare is a vest.
Common mistake: 背 has two readings. In 背心 it is fourth tone bèi, not first tone bēi as in 背包 (bēibāo, backpack). Also, 背心 is not a suit jacket. A jacket is 外套 (wàitào) or 夹克 (jiākè).
背心 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
背 bèi · the back of a body or object · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
心 xīn · heart · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 背心.
| 小心 | xiǎoxīn | to be careful; to take care |
| 开心 | kāixīn | to feel happy; to rejoice |
| 关心 | guānxīn | to be concerned about; to care about |
| 中心 | zhōngxīn | center; heart; core |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | to feel relieved; to feel reassured |
| 心情 | xīnqíng | mood; frame of mind |
| 心里 | xīnlǐ | chest; heart; mind |
| 心中 | xīnzhōng | central point; in one's thoughts |
| 信心 | xìnxīn | confidence; faith (in sb or sth) |
| 伤心 | shāngxīn | to grieve; to be broken-hearted |
| 背后 | bèihòu | behind; at the back |
| 内心 | nèixīn | heart; innermost being; (math.) incenter |
Questions about 背心
What does 背心 mean?
背心 (bèixīn) means "sleeveless garment (vest, waistcoat, singlet, tank top etc)" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 背心?
背心 is made of 2 characters: 背 (9 strokes), 心 (4 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 背心 an HSK word?
Yes. 背心 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say life jacket or safety vest in Chinese?
A life jacket is usually 救生衣 (jiùshēngyī). A high-visibility safety vest is often called 反光背心 (fǎnguāng bèixīn), literally a reflective vest.
Is 背心 the same as 马甲?
They overlap. 马甲 (mǎjiǎ) usually means a waistcoat or an outer vest worn over other clothes. 背心 is broader and is the common word for undershirts and tank tops.