装饰

• Pinyin: zhuāng shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 装 = 衣 (clothes) + 壮 (strong) — to dress, install; 饰 = 饣(food) + 巾 (cloth) + 人 — to decorate

Meaning

To decorate; decoration. Adding ornamental elements to make something more attractive or festive.

Used as both verb and noun. As a verb, it means to decorate or adorn. As a noun, it refers to decorations or ornaments. Common in interior design, fashion, and holiday contexts.

Examples

1. 她花了很多心思装饰自己的新房间。 She put a lot of thought into decorating her new room.
2. 圣诞节的时候商场里会有很多漂亮的装饰。 Shopping malls have lots of beautiful decorations during Christmas.
3. 这面墙上的装饰画是她亲手画的。 The decorative painting on this wall was painted by her personally.

Usage Guide

Context: interior design, holidays, fashion

Tone: aesthetic

Do Say

• 我想重新装饰一下客厅。(I want to redecorate the living room.)
• 婚礼现场的装饰非常浪漫。(The wedding venue decorations were very romantic.)

Don't Say

• 说'装饰你的脸'表示化妆 (Don't use 装饰 for applying makeup — use 化妆; 装饰 is for objects and spaces, not faces)

Origin & History

装 (to dress, to install) + 饰 (to decorate, ornament). Together they mean to adorn or embellish.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal