衣不解带

yī bù jiě dài

not even undressing to sleep; to tend someone day and night

Character by character

衣yī
clothes

不bù
not

解jiě
untie

带dài
belt

母亲住院那半个月，他衣不解带地守在病床前。

For the fortnight his mother was in hospital he stayed at her bedside day and night, never even changing out of his clothes.

Tone: positive (praise).

Praise for devoted nursing of a sick parent, spouse or child: 衣不解带地照顾／守在床前, often with 日夜 or 寸步不离. It describes the carer, never the patient.

Learn this in Lesson 134 · HSK 7–9: 家政阿姨与月嫂 (Housekeepers and maternity nurses)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.