How to Write 衽 (rèn) — Meaning “lapel; sleeping mat”

Picture a person wearing a robe with a large lapel shaped like the letter "R" (for rèn). The left radical 衤 looks like a hanger, and the right part 壬 resembles a small person adjusting their collar. This image connects the clothing radical and the sound rèn to the meaning "lapel."

Write the left radical 衤 first with 5 strokes (dot, dot, vertical, horizontal fold, vertical), then the right side 壬 in 4 strokes (horizontal, left-falling, horizontal, vertical). Keep the left part narrow and the right side slightly wider. A common mistake is writing the right side like 王 (with two horizontals at the top) instead of a left-falling stroke.

衽 has the right component 壬 (rèn), while 补 has 卜 (bǔ) and 衩 has 叉 (chā). Visually, 补's right looks like a dot and vertical, 衩's right looks like a fork, and 衽's right has a slanted stroke. In meaning, 衽 means "lapel" or "mat," 补 means "to mend," and 衩 means "slit in a garment."

衽 is rare in everyday speech but appears in classical or formal expressions. For example, 敛衽 (liǎn rèn) describes a traditional respectful gesture of folding one's lapel, and 衽席 (rèn xí) means "bedding." You might encounter it in historical novels, cultural discussions, or idioms about clothing etiquette.

Common words containing 衽 include: 衣衽 (yī rèn) — The front of a garment; 敛衽 (liǎn rèn) — to tidy one's dress (traditional gesture of respect); 衽席 (rèn xí) — sleeping mat; bedding.