Comparing jackets before buying | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 这两件夹克看起来很相似。

   These two jackets look very similar.

   这

   this; these

   两件

   two items

   夹克

   jacket

   看起来

   look; seem

   相似

   similar

   More detail

   这 means “this” or “these” as a proximal demonstrative. It does not itself mark singular or plural; in this sentence, the plural reading comes from 两件. Before a classifier, 这 identifies the nearby item(s): 这件夹克 means “this jacket,” while 这两件夹克 means “these two jackets.” 两件 expresses “two” plus the classifier 件. 两 is the numeral, and 件 is commonly used for clothing and various individual items. Mandarin normally places a classifier between a number and a noun: 两件衬衫 means “two shirts.” The classifier, rather than the noun 夹克, carries the item-counting function here. 夹克 is the noun “jacket.” With a classifier, it forms 两件夹克, “two jackets.” The noun itself does not change form for this number; the quantity is shown by 两件. 看起来 means “to look” or “to seem” in the sense of an appearance or impression. It is a reusable verb-plus-complement pattern: 看起来 + adjective, as in 这件夹克看起来很新。 — “This jacket looks very new.” The 起来 in this pattern does not mean that the subject physically moves upward; together, 看起来 describes how something appears. 相似 is the adjective “similar.” It compares two or more things and says that they resemble one another. It can follow 很, as in 两种颜色很相似 — “The two colors are very similar.” The adjective does not change form for number. The unselected word 很 comes between 看起来 and 相似. Here it adds the degree “very” and forms the natural affirmative adjective phrase 很相似, “very similar.” Thus 这两件夹克 identifies two jackets, 看起来 presents their visible appearance, and 很相似 says that their appearance is very similar. Together, the utterance means: “These two jackets look very similar.”

2. 我们比较一下布料和合身程度吧。

   Let's compare the fabric and fit.

   我们

   we; us

   比较

   compare

   一下

   briefly; for a moment

   布料

   fabric

   和

   and

   合身程度

   fit

   吧

   let’s; suggesting

   More detail

   我们 means “we” or “us.” The suffix 们 marks a plural group, so 我们 refers to the speaker together with at least one other person; it does not mark gender. Compare 我 “I/me” with 我们 “we/us.” Example: 我们一起看。— “Let’s look together.” 比较 is the verb “to compare.” Its form does not change for person or number. A useful pattern is 比较 A 和 B “compare A and B.” Example: 我们比较这两种颜色。— “We compare these two colors.” 一下 follows 比较 here and makes the action sound brief, light, or less forceful. It need not assert a literally measured moment. 比较一下 is therefore a reusable way to say “compare briefly” or “have a quick comparison.” 布料 is the noun “fabric” or “cloth,” referring here to the material of the clothing. Example: 这块布料很柔软。— “This fabric is very soft.” 和 connects the two things being compared: 布料 and 合身程度. In this use it means “and,” not a verb or a marker of comparison. 合身程度 means “degree of fit” or simply “fit.” 合身 describes how well clothing fits, while 程度 means the degree or extent of something. The full noun phrase lets the speaker compare the fabric with how well the clothing fits. Example: 我很在意衣服的合身程度。— “I care a lot about how well the clothes fit.” 吧 is a sentence-final particle that presents the proposal as a suggestion: “let’s …” or “how about …?” It makes the utterance collaborative rather than a bare command. Example: 我们先休息一下吧。— “Let’s take a short break first.” Together, 我们比较一下布料和合身程度吧 means “Let’s compare the fabric and fit.” The structure is 我们 + 比较 + 一下 + A 和 B + 吧: “let’s briefly compare A and B.” Here A is 布料, and B is 合身程度. The preceding context about two similar jackets supports comparing their materials and fit, while the following context continues evaluating one jacket’s qualities.

3. 这件摸起来很轻。

   This one feels light.

   这件

   this one (for an item)

   摸起来

   feel to the touch

   很轻

   very light

   More detail

   这件 means “this one” with an item classifier. 这 is the demonstrative “this,” while 件 is the classifier used with certain items, including many individual objects and garments. The classifier helps package the noun phrase; the specific item is not named in this sentence. Compare the reusable pattern 这 + classifier + noun, such as 这本书 (“this book”) when the noun is stated. 摸起来 describes how something feels when touched. 摸 means “to touch” or “to feel by touching,” and 起来 here forms a sensory-result pattern: 摸起来 + adjective = “feel … to the touch.” This is different from simply saying that someone touches something, as in 我摸它 (“I touch it”). 很轻 describes the item's weight as light. 轻 is the adjective “light,” opposite to 重 (“heavy”). 很 commonly occurs before an adjective in a simple descriptive statement; here it can be translated as “very,” while also helping form a natural adjective predicate. For example, 这个包摸起来很重。 means “This bag feels heavy to the touch.” Together, 这件 identifies the item, 摸起来 presents its tactile impression, and 很轻 gives that impression: “This one feels light.”

4. 布料好像很薄。

   The fabric seems thin.

   布料

   fabric

   好像

   seems

   薄

   thin

   More detail

   布料 means “fabric” or “cloth,” the material being described here. It is a noun. For example: 这种布料很柔软。— “This fabric is very soft.” 好像 presents the description as an appearance or impression rather than a firm assertion: “seems” or “appears to.” It commonly comes before the description: 好像 + adjective, as in 好像很远。— “It seems far away.” Here it does not identify who is making the impression; it simply marks the speaker’s assessment. 薄 means “thin” in this sentence, referring to the fabric’s thickness. It is an adjective; 很薄 means “very thin” or, in this kind of description, simply “thin” with 很 linking the adjective naturally to the subject. Its useful opposite is 厚 “thick”: 这本书很薄。— “This book is thin.” Together, 布料 supplies the subject, 好像 marks the judgment as an impression, and 很薄 describes the fabric. The whole utterance therefore means: “The fabric seems thin.”

5. 另一件摸起来更结实，也更暖和。

   The other one feels sturdier and warmer.

   另一件

   the other one

   摸起来

   feel to the touch

   更结实

   sturdier

   也

   also

   更暖和

   warmer

   More detail

   另一件 means “the other one” here. 件 is a measure word commonly used for garments and some other individual items; 另一 marks a different item from one already under discussion. The phrase does not itself state who owns the item or exactly which item it is. 摸起来 describes how something feels when touched. 摸 means “touch/feel with the hand,” and 起来 here helps form a sensory-impression pattern: 摸起来 + adjective = “feel ... to the touch.” Example: 这件摸起来很柔软。 — “This one feels very soft.” 更结实 means “sturdier” or “more durable.” 结实 is the base adjective meaning “sturdy/solid,” and 更 marks a higher degree in a comparison. The compared item or standard can remain understood rather than being stated again. 也 means “also” and links another property to the first one. It applies to the following description here, so the item is not only sturdier but has the additional quality described next. 更暖和 means “warmer.” 暖和 is the adjective meaning “warm” in a comfortable, everyday sense, and 更 makes it comparative: 暖和 → 更暖和 (“warm” → “warmer”). The 更 belongs to 暖和, not to the noun 件. Together, 另一件 identifies the contrasting item, 摸起来 frames the evaluation as tactile, and 更结实，也更暖和 gives two comparative properties: “it feels sturdier and also warmer.” Thus the whole utterance means: “The other one feels sturdier and warmer.”

6. 那件可能更适合日常穿。

   That might be better for everyday use.

   那件

   that one (item)

   可能

   might; possibly

   更适合

   be more suitable

   日常

   everyday; daily

   穿

   wear

   More detail

   那件 identifies the item being discussed: 那 means “that,” while 件 is a classifier commonly used for clothing and some other individual items. Classifiers normally occur between a demonstrative or number and a noun, so the phrase has the reusable pattern 那 + classifier → “that [item].” Here the noun is understood from the clothing context rather than stated separately. 可能 is placed before the descriptive predicate and expresses possibility: “might” or “possibly.” It does not mark a past or future tense; Chinese commonly uses this kind of adverb to show the speaker’s uncertainty about the statement that follows. 更适合 means “be more suitable.” 适合 is the base form meaning “to suit” or “to be suitable,” and 更 adds a comparison: more suitable than another relevant option or than an implied alternative. The comparison target is not stated in this sentence, but the preceding context supplies another item for comparison. In 更适合日常穿, 适合 takes the following activity as what the item is suitable for. 日常 means “everyday” or “daily.” Here it modifies the wearing activity, giving the reusable pattern 日常 + verb for an activity done in ordinary daily use. For example, 日常使用 means “use in everyday life.” 穿 is the bare verb “to wear” or, with clothing, “to put on.” Chinese verbs do not change form for person or number, so 穿 can be used with different subjects without an agreement ending. In this sentence it appears after 日常, forming “wear for everyday use”; the clothing item itself is understood as what is worn. Together, 那件 supplies the topic, 可能 makes the judgment tentative, and 更适合日常穿 says that the item is more suitable for wearing in everyday situations. The complete meaning is: “That might be better for everyday use.”

7. 先试穿一下，看看感觉怎么样。

   Try it on first and see how it feels.

   先

   first

   试穿

   try on

   一下

   briefly

   看看

   take a look

   感觉

   feel; feeling

   怎么样

   how is it

   More detail

   先 means “first” here: it places the trying-on before the later act of checking the result. It is a time-ordering word, not a command to do something only once. Example: 你先坐。 — “Sit down first.” 试穿 is the verb “to try on clothing or an item worn on the body.” It is a compound: 试 means “try,” while 穿 means “wear/put on.” The phrase is more specific than a general “try.” Example: 我想试穿这件外套。 — “I want to try on this coat.” 一下 follows 试穿 and presents the action as a short, limited try. In requests, it also makes the wording lighter and less forceful; it does not assert a numerical quantity. The reusable pattern is 动词 + 一下, as in 看一下 — “take a quick look.” 看看 is the reduplicated form of 看, “to look” or “to check.” Reduplication commonly presents a brief or casual attempt, so here it means checking the result after trying the item on. Example: 让我看看。 — “Let me take a look.” 感觉 means “feeling” here, specifically the sensation or overall impression produced by wearing the item. The same form can also be used as a verb meaning “to feel,” but this sentence uses it as the thing being evaluated in 感觉怎么样. Example: 这双鞋穿起来感觉很好。 — “These shoes feel very good to wear.” 怎么样 asks for an evaluation—literally, “how is it?”—of the preceding matter. It is a useful way to ask about quality, condition, or experience. Example: 这件衣服怎么样？ — “How is this item of clothing?” Together, 先试穿一下 asks the listener to try the item on first, and 看看感觉怎么样 asks the listener to check how it feels. Chinese leaves the subject and the item being tried unstated here because they are understood from the situation; the fixed translation identifies the intended item as “it.” The whole utterance is therefore: “Try it on first and see how it feels.”

8. 我决定之前会把两件都试一下。

   I will try both before I decide.

   我

   I

   决定

   decide

   之前

   before

   会

   will

   把

   marks the acted-on object

   两件

   two items

   都

   both

   试

   try

   一下

   briefly; a little

   More detail

   我 means “I” here, the speaker and the subject of 决定. This form does not change for the speaker’s gender or number. In Chinese, do not generalize this to every pronoun: some third-person written forms distinguish gender, but 我 itself does not. 决定 means “decide” here. Its base form is also 决定; Chinese verbs do not change form for person or number in this use. 我决定 means “I decide,” while the surrounding structure places that decision before the later action. Example: 我决定明天出发。 — “I decide to leave tomorrow.” 之前 means “before.” Here it follows 我决定, making 我决定之前 — “before I decide.” This is a reusable time pattern: [clause]之前, as in 出发之前 — “before setting off.” 会 means “will” here and presents the following action as future. It does not mark the subject; in this sentence, the understood subject of 会 ... 试 is also 我. Example: 我会再试一次。 — “I will try once more.” 把 introduces the object acted on and places it before the verb. The reusable pattern is 把 + object + verb, as in 把门关上 — “close the door.” 两件 means “two items” here. 两 is the number “two,” and 件 is a classifier counting the items; 件 is not an inflection on 试 or 决定. The noun being counted is understood from context rather than stated in this sentence. 都 means “both” here because the group contains two items. It says that the action applies to the whole group. With a larger group, 都 can mean “all”: 三个人都来了。 — “All three people came.” 试 means “try” or “test” here. It is a verb whose form does not change for person or number in this sentence. The following 一下 presents the trial as brief or limited in extent; it does not mean that only one of the two items will be tried. 一下 follows 试 and adds the sense of doing it briefly or giving it a quick try. Together, 试一下 is a common pattern meaning “try it briefly” or, depending on context, “give it a try.” Example: 你看一下。 — “Take a quick look.” The sentence assembles as 我决定之前 (“before I decide”) + 会 (“will”) + 把两件都试一下 (“try both items briefly”). 我 is the subject of 决定, and the understood subject of the later action is also the speaker. The complete meaning is: “I will try both before I decide.”

9. 这样应该更容易做决定。

   That should make the choice easier.

   这样

   this way; like this

   应该

   should

   更容易

   easier

   做决定

   make a decision

   More detail

   这样 means “in this way” or “like this.” It is a demonstrative expression for manner or method: 这样 + clause describes what happens when something is done this way. The expression itself does not identify a particular person or object. 应该 expresses the speaker’s expectation or assessment that something is likely or appropriate: “should.” Here it combines with the following clause, so the expected result is that deciding becomes easier. A useful pattern is 应该 + verb or clause, as in 他应该到了, “He should have arrived.” 更容易 means “easier.” 容易 is the base adjective, meaning “easy,” and 更容易 marks a comparison: “easier” or “more easy.” The comparison is understood relative to another method or situation; the sentence does not specify exactly what the comparison point is. For example, 这样更容易理解, “This way is easier to understand.” 做决定 is a common verb-object combination meaning “make a decision.” 做 means “do” or “make,” while 决定 here is the noun “decision.” The same written word 决定 can also function as a verb meaning “to decide,” as in 我决定了, “I have decided.” In this utterance, 做决定 is the action that becomes easier. Together, 这样 (“in this way”) sets the method, 应该 (“should”) presents the expected result, 更容易 (“easier”) describes that result, and 做决定 (“make a decision”) names the action. The whole utterance therefore means: “That should make the choice easier.”