zhèjiàn yīfu yào shǒuxǐ.

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

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.

Because the normal pattern is:

这 / 那 + classifier + noun

So:

• 这件衣服
• 那本书
• 这个人

You do not add 的 in this structure.

的 is used in other kinds of modification, such as:

• 红色的衣服 = red clothes
• 我的衣服 = my clothes

But demonstratives like 这 and 那 directly take a classifier, not 的.

By itself, 衣服 can refer to clothing in a general sense, and English sometimes translates it as clothes.

But in this sentence, 件 makes it clearly singular:

• 这件衣服 = this piece of clothing / this garment

So even though 衣服 can be somewhat general, the classifier tells you we are talking about one item.

Here 要 means something like needs to, must, or requires.

It does not mean want in this sentence.

That is because the subject is 这件衣服. Clothes do not literally want something, so 要 is understood as a requirement:

• 这件衣服要手洗 = This garment needs to be hand-washed.

Compare:

• 我要喝水 = I want to drink water.
• 这个菜要多煮一会儿 = This dish needs to cook a bit longer.

So 要 is very flexible, and context tells you which meaning is intended.

Chinese often does not mark the passive in the same way English does.

English says:

• This shirt needs to be hand-washed

Mandarin can simply say:

• 这件衣服要手洗

This is a very natural Chinese way to express a requirement. The meaning is understood as:

• this item of clothing requires hand washing
• this item should be washed by hand

You do not need 被 here. In fact, using 被 would usually sound unnatural in this kind of care-instruction sentence.

Yes, 手洗 is a compact verb meaning to hand-wash or wash by hand.

It is made up of:

• 手 = hand
• 洗 = wash

So together:

• 手洗 = hand-wash

This kind of compact wording is especially common in instructions, labels, and signs.

A fuller version is also possible:

• 用手洗 = wash using the hands / wash by hand

But on labels, shorter wording is very common, so 手洗 sounds perfectly natural.

Because 要 comes before the main verb.

The pattern is:

subject + 要 + verb

So here:

• 这件衣服 = subject
• 要 = needs to / requires
• 手洗 = be hand-washed / hand-wash

This same pattern appears in many other sentences:

• 这个字要重写。 = This character needs to be rewritten.
• 饭要马上吃。 = The food needs to be eaten right away.

So the order is normal Mandarin grammar: requirement word first, action second.

Yes. Both are possible, but the nuance is a little different.

• 这件衣服要手洗
  Very natural, concise, common in instructions and everyday speech.

• 这件衣服得手洗
  Also natural; 得 often suggests have to / must.

• 这件衣服需要手洗
  Grammatically fine, a bit more explicit and slightly more formal.

On a clothing label or care instruction, the short version 要手洗 is especially common and efficient.

Because 衣服 is commonly pronounced yīfu, with the second syllable in a neutral tone.

So learners often hear:

• 衣服 = yīfu

rather than a full second-tone-like pronunciation on 服.

This is very common in everyday Mandarin. Many frequent two-syllable words have a neutral-tone second syllable in normal speech.

So if you hear:

• zhèjiàn yīfu yào shǒuxǐ

that is completely normal.

Yes, absolutely.

This sentence sounds very natural as a care instruction. Chinese labels often use short, efficient wording, so a sentence like this fits that style well.

You might also see even shorter forms such as:

• 请手洗 = Please hand-wash
• 只能手洗 = Hand-wash only
• 不可机洗 = Do not machine wash

So 这件衣服要手洗 is a very normal instruction-style sentence.