衣

It signifies "clothes," "apparel (衣服)," and the action "to wear."

It is a pictogram representing a garment worn with a collar fastened.

Historically, upper body clothing was represented by 衣 (clothes) and lower body clothing by 裳 (skirt), together called 衣裳 (clothing or costume). The reading for 衣 as "clothes" was already established in Middle Korean, although the final consonant sound was somewhat different.

The character 衣 is mainly related to clothing. When used as a radical, it appears in three main forms:

1. As the “clothes” radical 衤 on the side (usually the left side of a character).

Examples of characters using this form include:

複 (to double),

褐 (brown),

補 (to mend),

裸 (naked),

被 (to wear).

2. In its full form 衣, combining directly with other components.

Examples include:

裳 (skirt),

裂 (to tear),

裝 (to decorate),

製 (to make).

3. Split into two parts—usually the top and bottom—surrounding another component, somewhat like 行 (to go).

Examples include:

表 (surface),

衰 (to decline),

衷 (heartfelt),

襄 (to help).

For instance, the character for “inside” can be written two ways: 裡 (with the radical 衤 on the left side, form 1) and 裏 (with the split 衣 form, form 3). Both are used depending on context.