烫衣 (tàng yī) literally means 'to scald clothes', but in modern Chinese it is the standard term for 'to iron clothes'—referring to the process of using a hot iron to remove wrinkles and smooth fabric. The character 烫 originally means 'to scald' or 'to burn', reflecting the heat involved, while 衣 means 'clothing' or 'garment'. Together, they form a compact verb phrase commonly used in household and laundry contexts.

This verb is typically used in daily routines, especially when describing chores, preparing for work or formal events, or discussing domestic responsibilities. It’s neutral in register—appropriate in both spoken and written Chinese—and often appears in imperative sentences ('Please iron the shirt') or past-tense narratives ('She ironed the blouse yesterday'). Unlike some verbs, 烫衣 is not separable: you cannot insert objects or aspect particles between 烫 and 衣; instead, modifiers come before or after the whole phrase (e.g., 仔细烫衣, 烫衣花了半小时).