shōu yīfu: 收衣服 - To bring in the laundry, To collect clothes

• Keywords: shōu yīfu, 收衣服, bring in laundry Chinese, collect clothes Chinese, take in the clothes, doing chores in Chinese, Chinese household chores, how to say laundry in Chinese, pinyin shōu yīfu, drying clothes in China, daily life in China
• Summary: Learn how to say “bring in the laundry” in Chinese with the essential term 收衣服 (shōu yīfu). This page explores the core meaning of this common household chore, from a character breakdown to its cultural significance related to air-drying clothes on balconies across China. Discover practical examples, common mistakes, and related vocabulary to master this everyday phrase.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shōu yīfu
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (收 is the verb, 衣服 is the object)
• HSK Level: Composed of HSK 1 (衣服) + HSK 3 (收) characters.
• Concise Definition: To collect clothes, specifically by bringing them inside after they have been hung out to dry.
• In a Nutshell: 收衣服 (shōu yīfu) is the specific action of gathering dry laundry from a clothesline, drying rack, or balcony. It's not about washing clothes or putting them in a drawer. Think of that moment when you check if the clothes are dry and then take them off the line—that's 收衣服. It's a fundamental part of daily household chores in China.

• 收 (shōu): This character means “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to collect.” You can think of the left part as representing an action, and the right part suggesting something being gathered. It implies bringing something in or putting it away.
• 衣 (yī): This character is a pictograph of a piece of clothing, like an ancient upper garment with sleeves. It's the most fundamental character for “clothes.”
• 服 (fú): This character also means “clothing” or “to wear.” When combined, 衣服 (yīfu) becomes the general, all-encompassing word for “clothes” or “garments.”

The logic is simple and direct: 收 (to collect) + 衣服 (clothes) = to collect the clothes.

In many Western countries, especially the United States, the electric clothes dryer is a standard household appliance. The entire laundry process might happen in a basement or laundry room, away from sight. In China, however, the act of 收衣服 is tied to a much more visible and widespread cultural practice: air-drying. Walk through any residential neighborhood in China, and you'll see a tapestry of laundry hanging from balconies (阳台, yángtái) and windows. This is done for several reasons:

• Energy Conservation: Electricity is not as cheap, and dryers are seen as energy-intensive and unnecessary luxuries by many.
• Space: Apartments are often small, and a bulky dryer takes up valuable space.
• Cultural Belief: There is a common belief that drying clothes in the sun (晒太阳, shài tàiyáng) is more hygienic, as the UV rays have a natural sterilizing effect. Sun-dried clothes are considered cleaner and fresher.

Because of this, the chore isn't just “doing laundry”; it's a multi-step process: 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - washing, 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu) - hanging out to dry, and finally, 收衣服 (shōu yīfu) - bringing them in. The phrase is therefore a constant, daily expression in family life, often linked to the weather—one must rush to 收衣服 before it rains!

收衣服 is a high-frequency, informal term used in everyday conversation. It has a neutral connotation and is a standard part of discussing household chores (家务, jiāwù).

• In the Family: It's most commonly heard within a household. Parents might ask their children to do it, or a couple might coordinate chores.
  • “Don't forget to bring in the laundry!”
  • “Is it going to rain? I should go collect the clothes.”
• With Weather: The term is very frequently used in response to changes in weather, especially impending rain. It implies a sense of urgency.

• Example 1:
  • 快下雨了，你快去收衣服！
  • Pinyin: Kuài xiàyǔ le, nǐ kuài qù shōu yīfu!
  • English: It's about to rain, hurry up and bring in the laundry!
  • Analysis: This shows a very common and urgent use case. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a change of state (it's about to rain).
• Example 2:
  • 妈妈，阳台上的衣服干了吗？我可以去收衣服了吗？
  • Pinyin: Māma, yángtái shàng de yīfu gān le ma? Wǒ kěyǐ qù shōu yīfu le ma?
  • English: Mom, are the clothes on the balcony dry? Can I go bring them in now?
  • Analysis: A typical question from a child helping with chores. `干 (gān)` means “dry.”
• Example 3:
  • 我今天太累了，忘了收衣服。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, wàng le shōu yīfu.
  • English: I was too tired today, I forgot to bring in the laundry.
  • Analysis: A simple statement explaining why a chore wasn't done. `忘了 (wàng le)` means “forgot.”
• Example 4:
  • 你能帮我把衣服收一下吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ yīfu shōu yíxià ma?
  • English: Can you help me bring in the clothes for a moment?
  • Analysis: Here, `收 (shōu)` is used as the verb within a `把 (bǎ)` construction. `一下 (yíxià)` softens the request, making it more polite.
• Example 5:
  • 吃完晚饭以后，我一般会去收衣服，然后叠衣服。
  • Pinyin: Chī wán wǎnfàn yǐhòu, wǒ yìbān huì qù shōu yīfu, ránhòu dié yīfu.
  • English: After finishing dinner, I usually go bring in the laundry and then fold the clothes.
  • Analysis: This sentence places 收衣服 in the sequence of evening chores, followed by `叠衣服 (dié yīfu)`, “to fold clothes.”
• Example 6:
  • 外面的风很大，小心别让收回来的衣服又被吹走了。
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn de fēng hěn dà, xiǎoxīn bié ràng shōu huílái de yīfu yòu bèi chuī zǒu le.
  • English: The wind outside is very strong, be careful not to let the clothes you just brought in get blown away again.
  • Analysis: This example shows the term being used in a more complex way. `收回来的衣服 (shōu huílái de yīfu)` means “the clothes that have been brought in.”
• Example 7:
  • 他什么家务都不做，连收衣服这样的小事都得我来。
  • Pinyin: Tā shénme jiāwù dōu bú zuò, lián shōu yīfu zhèyàng de xiǎoshì dōu děi wǒ lái.
  • English: He doesn't do any chores; I even have to do a small thing like bringing in the laundry.
  • Analysis: This is an example of a complaint, using 收衣服 as an example of a very simple, basic chore. `连…都… (lián…dōu…)` means “even…”.
• Example 8:
  • 每天下午四点，邻居家的阿姨都会准时收衣服。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān xiàwǔ sì diǎn, línjū jiā de āyí dōu huì zhǔnshí shōu yīfu.
  • English: Every day at 4 PM, the auntie next door brings in her laundry on time.
  • Analysis: This describes a daily routine observed in others. `准时 (zhǔnshí)` means “on time.”
• Example 9:
  • 衣服在外面晾了一天，你还没收吗？
  • Pinyin: Yīfu zài wàimiàn liàng le yì tiān, nǐ hái méi shōu ma?
  • English: The clothes have been hanging outside for a whole day, you still haven't brought them in?
  • Analysis: A slightly impatient question. `晾 (liàng)` means “to air-dry.” Here, the object `衣服` is omitted after `收` because it's clear from context.
• Example 10:
  • 冬天收衣服的时候，衣服摸起来总是冰冰的。
  • Pinyin: Dōngtiān shōu yīfu de shíhou, yīfu mō qǐlái zǒngshì bīngbīng de.
  • English: When you bring in the laundry in the winter, the clothes always feel icy.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the sensory experience of the chore. `冰冰的 (bīngbīng de)` is a vivid adjective for “icy cold.”

• Mistake 1: Confusing `收衣服 (shōu yīfu)` with `洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu)`.
  • This is the most common mistake for beginners. 收 (shōu) is to collect, 洗 (xǐ) is to wash. They are two distinct steps in the laundry process.
  • Incorrect: 我的衬衫很脏，我需要去收衣服。 (My shirt is dirty, I need to go collect the laundry.)
  • Correct: 我的衬衫很脏，我需要去洗衣服。 (My shirt is dirty, I need to go wash the clothes.)
• Mistake 2: Using `收衣服 (shōu yīfu)` to mean “putting clothes away” in a closet.
  • 收衣服 specifically means taking clothes off the line/rack. The next step is often 叠衣服 (dié yīfu), “to fold clothes,” and then putting them into the closet (把衣服放进衣柜). While 收 (shōu) can mean “to put away” in other contexts (e.g., 收玩具 shōu wánjù - put away toys), the set phrase 收衣服 almost exclusively refers to bringing them in from outside.
  • Ambiguous: 我要收衣服到衣柜里。 (I need to collect the clothes into the closet.)
  • Clearer: 我要把叠好的衣服放进衣柜里。 (I need to put the folded clothes into the closet.)

• 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - The preceding step; to wash clothes.
• 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu) - The step before 收衣服; to hang clothes out to dry.
• 叠衣服 (dié yīfu) - The step after 收衣服; to fold clothes.
• 做家务 (zuò jiāwù) - The broader category of chores that includes 收衣服.
• 洗衣机 (xǐyījī) - A related object; washing machine.
• 阳台 (yángtái) - The most common place for `晾衣服` and `收衣服`; balcony.
• 晾衣杆 (liàngyīgān) - A specific object used for drying clothes; clothes-drying rack or pole.
• 干 (gān) - A key related adjective; dry. You 收衣服 when the clothes are `干`.
• 湿 (shī) - The opposite of `干`; wet.
• 收起来 (shōu qǐlái) - A more general phrase meaning “to put away” or “to tidy up,” which can be used for toys, books, or other items.