被子

The Chinese word 被子 (bèizi) for "quilt" or "blanket" has an interesting etymology. It is composed of two characters: 被 (bèi) and 子 (zi). The character 被 originally meant "to cover" or "to protect", and was often used in ancient Chinese texts to refer to armor or other protective gear. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any kind of covering, including blankets and quilts. The character 子 (zi) is a common suffix in Chinese that can indicate a variety of things, including "child", "seed", or "offspring". In the case of 被子, the character 子 is used to indicate that the quilt or blanket is a "child" of the bed, or something that is used to cover and protect the bed. Thus, the word 被子 literally means "something that covers and protects the bed", which is a fitting name for a quilt or blanket.