Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about clothes, outfits, suits, and costumes.
你好！本周的“问老师”，我们将回答一个关于衣服、套装、西装和服饰的问题。
 
Question:
问题：
 
Dear Teacher,
亲爱的老师，
 
Could you explain for me when to use ''costume'', ''outfit'', ''suit'' and ''clothes'' please?
你能为我解释一下什么时候使用“costume”、“outfit”、“suit”和“clothes”吗？
 
Kind regards,
此致，
 
Chau from Vietnam
来自越南的Chau
 
Answer
回答
 
Dear Chau,
亲爱的Chau，
 
Thanks for this question! "Costumes" and "suits" are kinds of "clothes." An "outfit" is a combination of clothes that you wear for the day. Let's look at each of these a little closer.
感谢您提出这个问题！ “costumes”和“suits”都是“clothes”的一种。 “服装”是您当天穿的衣服的组合。让我们仔细看看每一个。
 
Clothes
衣服
 
"Clothes" is a plural noun meaning coverings we wear over our body to give protection and keep us warm or cool. Sometimes, "clothes" we wear can be stylish or have a special meaning.
“衣服”是一个复数名词，意思是我们穿在身上的覆盖物，以提供保护并使我们保持温暖或凉爽.有时，我们穿的“衣服”可以很时尚或有特殊意义。
 
By the end of the week my dirty clothes pile up and I need to wash them.
到了周末，我的脏衣服堆积如山，我需要洗它们。
 
Kinds of "clothes" include pants, shorts, shirts or "tops," dresses, and skirts. They also include underwear and socks.
“衣服”的种类包括裤子、短裤、衬衫或“上衣”、连衣裙和裙子。它们还包括内衣和袜子。

I have summer clothes like skirts and shorts and winter clothes like sweatpants and hoodies.
我有夏天的衣服，比如裙子和短裤，还有冬天的衣服，比如运动裤和连帽衫。
 
Some "clothes" are worn only at special times, for example:
有些“衣服”只在特定时间穿，例如：
 
My gym clothes include stretchy pants and a tee-shirt.
我的运动服包括弹力裤和 T 恤。
 
Outfit
服装
 
An "outfit" is a set of clothes. The word "outfit" is a countable noun.
“服装”是一套衣服。 “outfit”这个词是一个可数名词。
 
When I travel, I like to pack an extra outfit just in case.
当我旅行时，我喜欢多带一套衣服以备不时之需。
 
On the internet, people like to share their outfits of the day or OOTDs.
在互联网上，人们喜欢分享他们的当天或 OOTD 的服装。
 
Suit
套装
 
A "suit" is a formal outfit consisting of a jacket, pants, or a skirt, and sometimes a vest, all made from the same cloth.
“西装”是一种正式的着装，包括夹克、裤子或裙子，有时还有背心，都是用同一种布料制成的。
 
Suits were a popular choice for work before 2020.
西装是 2020 年之前上班的流行选择。
 
My husband wore a blue suit to our wedding.
我丈夫在我们的婚礼上穿了一套蓝色西装。
 
A "suit" can also be a piece of clothing that you wear for a certain activity.
“西装”也可以是您在某项活动中穿的一件衣服。
 
For example,
例如
 
Swimsuits are for swimming and other water activities.
泳衣是用于游泳和其他水上活动的。
 
Costume
服装
 
"Costume" has several meanings.
“服装”有几个意思。

As a noun, the first meaning is a set of clothes for a performer when they are on stage or worn by a person for a specific reason or an event like a holiday.
作为名词，第一个意思是表演者在舞台上或因特定原因或节日等活动而穿着的一套衣服.

During the play, the actors had to change their costumes many times.
在演出期间，演员们不得不多次更换服装。
 
I have a full closet of dance costumes that I need to sell.
我有一整柜的舞蹈服装需要出售。
 
What is your Halloween costume this year? My costume is a cat!
今年你的万圣节装扮是什么？我的服装是一只猫！
 
The second meaning as a noncount noun refers to clothes worn by people during a time in history or in a specific country or area.
第二个意思是不可数名词，指历史上某个时期或特定国家或地区的人们所穿的衣服。
 
She dressed in her country's traditional costume for an international event.
她穿着穿着她国家的传统服装参加国际活动。
 
Victorian-era costumes consisted of fitted clothes like high-collared shirts and long skirts for women that did not reveal much skin.
维多利亚时代的服装包括合身的衣服，如高领衬衫和不暴露太多皮肤的女性长裙。
 
And, we use "costume" as an adjective describing something like a play or film set in the past and where actors use clothing from that time period.
而且，我们使用“服装”作为形容词来描述戏剧或电影等事物以过去为背景，演员穿着那个时期的服装。
 
The television show Outlander is a costume drama set in the 1700s in countries like Scotland, France, and The United States.
电视节目《异乡人》是一部以 1700 年代苏格兰、法国和美国等国家/地区为背景的古装剧。
Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you!
如果这些解释和示例对您有帮助，请告诉我们！