不胜衣

不勝衣

bùshèngyī

phrase

Meanings

1 too frail to bear the weight of one's own clothes
2 extremely thin and weak
3 (also) modestly self-effacing

Characters

to bear, withstand

Examples

HSK 4

书中描写那位书生弱不胜衣，却才气过人。

Shū zhōng miáoxiě nàwèi shūshēng ruò bùshèngyī, què cáiqì guòrén.

The book describes the scholar as frail to the point his robes seemed too heavy, yet exceptionally talented.

HSK 5

大病之后，他瘦得不胜衣。

Dà bìng zhīhòu, tā shòu de bùshèngyī.

After the serious illness, he was so thin he could barely carry the weight of his own clothes.

Tips

history

From 《荀子·非相》: a description of the Duke of She, 叶公子高, as so slight-bodied that his robes seemed about to slip off. Literary register, mostly seen in classical-flavored writing.

Stroke Order

不 bù

胜 shèng

衣 yī