zhèjiàn yīfu yào shǒuxǐ.

to need to

Breakdown of zhèjiàn yīfu yào shǒuxǐ.

• 衣服yīfu: clothes
• 这件zhèjiàn: this
• 手洗shǒuxǐ: to hand-wash

Questions & Answers about zhèjiàn yīfu yào shǒuxǐ.

Why is 件 used in 这件衣服?

件 is a measure word (classifier) for many individual clothing items and similar objects.

In Mandarin, when you say this/that/one + noun, you usually need a classifier:

• 这件衣服 = this item of clothing
• 那件外套 = that coat
• 一件衬衫 = one shirt

So 件 is not part of the meaning clothes itself; it is a grammar word required in this kind of structure.

Also, classifiers depend on the noun:

• 一件衣服 = a piece of clothing
• 一条裤子 = a pair of pants
• 一双鞋 = a pair of shoes

Why not say 这个衣服 instead of 这件衣服?

You might hear 个 used as a very general fallback classifier in casual speech, but 这件衣服 is the more natural and standard choice.

Why?

• 个 is a general classifier
• 件 is the proper classifier for many clothing items

So:

• 这件衣服 = natural, standard
• 这个衣服 = understandable, but less native-sounding

A learner should generally use the specific classifier when they know it.

Why is it 这件衣服, with no 的?