liàngyīfu: 晾衣服 - To Hang Clothes to Dry, To Air Out Clothes

• Keywords: liàng yīfu, 晾衣服, hang clothes to dry Chinese, air out laundry Chinese, Chinese laundry, drying clothes in China, liang yifu meaning, Chinese daily life, household chores in Chinese, laundry pole, balcony laundry.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu), which means “to hang clothes to dry.” This entry explores not just the translation but the deep cultural significance of air-drying laundry, a common sight on balconies across China. Discover why sun-drying is preferred over electric dryers, understand the character breakdown, and see practical examples of this fundamental daily chore in modern Chinese life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liàng yīfu
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 4 (character 晾)
• Concise Definition: To hang wet clothes up to dry, typically on a line or rack.
• In a Nutshell: 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu) is the standard Chinese expression for the common household chore of hanging laundry out to dry. It's more than just a phrase; it's a routine and a visible part of the urban and rural landscape in China. Instead of using an electric dryer, the vast majority of people hang their clothes on balconies, in courtyards, or on communal lines, letting the sun and air do the work.

• 晾 (liàng): This character beautifully illustrates its meaning. The left-side radical, 日 (rì), means “sun.” The right side, 京 (jīng), which means “capital city,” primarily serves as the phonetic component. So, 晾 is fundamentally about exposing something to the sun (日) to dry it.
• 衣 (yī): A simple pictograph that originally looked like a robe with sleeves. It is the most basic character for “clothing” or “garment.”
• 服 (fu): This character is also related to clothing, and together with 衣, it forms the common word 衣服 (yīfu), meaning “clothes” in a general sense.

When combined, 晾 (liàng) + 衣服 (yīfu) literally and logically means “to air-dry clothes.”

In most Western countries, particularly the United States, a machine clothes dryer (烘干机, hōnggānjī) is a standard household appliance. The act of drying clothes is a private, indoor activity. In China, the culture around laundry is fundamentally different, and 晾衣服 is at its core. The Western concept of “convenience” via a machine is often superseded by the Chinese values of thrift, practicality, and a belief in the power of nature.

• The Power of the Sun: There is a widespread cultural belief that the sun's ultraviolet rays (紫外线, zǐwàixiàn) are a natural disinfectant that kills germs and mites. Clothes dried in the sun are considered cleaner and healthier. Many people love the fresh scent of sun-dried laundry, calling it “the smell of the sun” (太阳的味道, tàiyáng de wèidào).
• Economic and Environmental Factors: Electricity is not as cheap, and living spaces are often smaller. A large, energy-consuming dryer is an expensive luxury that also takes up valuable space. Air-drying is free and environmentally friendly.
• A Visible Part of Life: In contrast to the West, where hanging laundry outside can sometimes be frowned upon or even banned by homeowner associations, in China it is a normal and accepted part of the visual landscape. Balconies adorned with drying clothes, quilts, and even cured meats are an iconic and authentic slice of daily life, reflecting a community's rhythm and routine for all to see. This public-yet-private act shows a different perspective on communal living and the use of personal space.

晾衣服 is a high-frequency, informal term used in everyday conversations about household chores.

• In Daily Conversation: It's used when talking about your daily to-do list, asking a family member for help, or commenting on the weather's suitability for laundry.
• Connotation: The term is completely neutral. It's a simple description of an action, like “washing dishes” or “sweeping the floor.”
• Versatility: The verb 晾 (liàng) can be used for things other than clothes. You can 晾被子 (liàng bèizi), to air out a quilt, or 晾鞋 (liàng xié), to dry out shoes.

• Example 1:
  • 我洗完澡要去晾衣服了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐ wán zǎo yào qù liàng yīfu le.
  • English: After I finish my shower, I'm going to go hang the clothes to dry.
  • Analysis: A simple statement of intent, a very common way this phrase is used in a household setting.
• Example 2:
  • 今天天气真好，很适合晾衣服。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān tiānqì zhēn hǎo, hěn shìhé liàng yīfu.
  • English: The weather is really nice today, very suitable for hanging clothes to dry.
  • Analysis: Connects the action to the weather, which is the most important factor for success.
• Example 3:
  • 妈妈，你能帮我把这些衣服晾在阳台上吗？
  • Pinyin: Māma, nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhèxiē yīfu liàng zài yángtái shàng ma?
  • English: Mom, can you help me hang these clothes on the balcony?
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the 把 (bǎ) structure to show the disposal of the object (clothes). It also separates the verb `晾` from the object `衣服`.
• Example 4:
  • 外面好像要下雨了，你快去把衣服收回来！
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn hǎoxiàng yào xià yǔ le, nǐ kuài qù bǎ yīfu shōu huílái!
  • English: It looks like it's going to rain outside, hurry up and bring the clothes in!
  • Analysis: This example shows the opposite action, 收衣服 (shōu yīfu), which is to bring in the dry laundry.
• Example 5:
  • 你看对面，家家户户都晾着衣服。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn duìmiàn, jiājiāhùhù dōu liàng zhe yīfu.
  • English: Look across the way, every single household is hanging clothes out to dry.
  • Analysis: Uses the particle 着 (zhe) to indicate the continuous state of the clothes being hung up. This describes the common visual scene.
• Example 6:
  • 这件毛衣不能晾，只能平放着阴干。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn máoyī bùnéng liàng, zhǐ néng píngfàng zhe yīngān.
  • English: This sweater can't be hung up to dry; it can only be laid flat to dry in the shade.
  • Analysis: Shows a specific laundry instruction, highlighting that 晾 implies hanging on a line or hanger.
• Example 7:
  • 我的被子有一股霉味，我得拿出去晾一晾。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de bèizi yǒu yī gǔ méiwèi, wǒ děi ná chūqù liàng yi liàng.
  • English: My quilt has a musty smell, I need to take it outside to air it out for a bit.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the reduplication of the verb 晾 (liàng), which softens the tone and implies doing the action for a short or casual period.
• Example 8:
  • 他太懒了，洗好的衣服在洗衣机里放了两天都忘了晾。
  • Pinyin: Tā tài lǎn le, xǐ hǎo de yīfu zài xǐyījī lǐ fàng le liǎng tiān dōu wàng le liàng.
  • English: He's so lazy, the washed clothes sat in the washing machine for two days and he forgot to hang them.
  • Analysis: A complaint showing the consequence of not performing this common chore.
• Example 9:
  • 衣服晾干了以后记得叠好。
  • Pinyin: Yīfu liàng gān le yǐhòu jìde dié hǎo.
  • English: After the clothes are dry, remember to fold them neatly.
  • Analysis: Shows the sequence of chores: hang to dry, then fold. `晾干 (liàng gān)` means “to hang until dry.”
• Example 10:
  • 北方的冬天太冷了，衣服在外面晾好几天都冻着，干不了。
  • Pinyin: Běifāng de dōngtiān tài lěng le, yīfu zài wàimiàn liàng hǎo jǐ tiān dōu dòng zhe, gān bù liǎo.
  • English: The winters in the north are too cold; clothes hung outside for several days just freeze and can't get dry.
  • Analysis: Illustrates a practical challenge with air-drying in certain climates, which is when indoor drying becomes necessary.

• 晾 (liàng) vs. 挂 (guà): This is a crucial distinction for learners.
  • 晾 (liàng): To hang wet clothes for the purpose of drying them.
  • 挂 (guà): To hang dry clothes, typically on a hanger in a closet. It also means to hang anything in general (e.g., a picture on a wall).
  • Common Mistake: Using `挂` for wet clothes. While a native speaker might understand `我把湿衣服挂在阳台上 (Wǒ bǎ shī yīfu guà zài yángtái shàng)`, it sounds unnatural. The correct and specific verb is `晾`.
• 晾 (liàng) vs. 晒 (shài): These are very close in meaning but have a subtle difference.
  • 晒 (shài): Literally “to shine on (by the sun),” to bask. It specifically implies drying in the sun. You can say 晒太阳 (shài tàiyáng) - to sunbathe.
  • 晾 (liàng): More general, meaning “to air-dry.” This can be done in the sun, in the shade, or even indoors on a cloudy day.
  • In Practice: On a sunny day, 晾衣服 and 晒衣服 (shài yīfu) are often used interchangeably. However, `晾` is the more universally applicable term for the chore itself, regardless of the weather. You can `晾` clothes indoors, but you cannot `晒` them indoors.

• 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - To wash clothes; the action that precedes `晾衣服`.
• 收衣服 (shōu yīfu) - To bring in the clothes; the action that follows `晾衣服`.
• 晒衣服 (shài yīfu) - A close synonym, meaning to dry clothes specifically in the sun.
• 烘干机 (hōnggānjī) - Electric clothes dryer; the machine-based alternative.
• 洗衣机 (xǐyījī) - Washing machine.
• 阳台 (yángtái) - Balcony; the most common place for `晾衣服` in Chinese apartments.
• 晾衣杆 (liàngyīgān) - Clothes-drying pole/rack; the equipment used for `晾衣服`.
• 衣架 (yījià) - Clothes hanger.
• 家务 (jiāwù) - Household chores; the general category this activity belongs to.