嫁妆

• Pinyin: jià zhuang
• Hanzi breakdown: 嫁 = 女 + 家 (woman + home — a woman going to a new family); 妆 = 爿 + 女 (bed/plank + woman — to adorn, a bride's trousseau)

Meaning

Dowry; trousseau; wedding gifts provided by the bride's family upon marriage. The material items or money the bride brings from her natal home to her husband's family.

A significant traditional practice in Chinese wedding culture. 嫁妆 can range from furniture and household items to jewellery and cash. Its scale was historically tied to the bride's family's social status. The custom persists in varying forms across different regions and generations.

Examples

1. 她的嫁妆包括一套精美的红木家具和数件祖传的玉器首饰。 Her dowry included a fine set of rosewood furniture and several pieces of heirloom jade jewelry.
2. 在一些地区，丰厚的嫁妆至今仍被视为衡量新娘家庭地位的重要标志。 In some areas, a generous dowry is still seen as an important sign of the bride’s family’s social standing.
3. 随着观念的转变，越来越多的年轻人不再看重嫁妆的多寡，而更注重两情相悦的感情基础。 As attitudes change, more and more young people care less about the size of the dowry and focus more on a relationship built on mutual affection.

Usage Guide

Context: marriage customs, family culture, social commentary, traditional culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 在传统婚俗里，嫁妆既是娘家对女儿的支持，也寄托着父母的祝福与牵挂。(In traditional wedding customs, a dowry is both support from the bride's family and an expression of the parents' blessings and concern.)
• 现代许多年轻夫妇已不再讲究嫁妆，而把双方家庭支持用于买房或创业。(Many young couples today no longer care about a dowry, instead using support from both families to buy a home or start a business.)

Don't Say

• 嫁妆 specifically refers to what the bride's family provides upon her marriage. Do not confuse with 彩礼 (bride price or betrothal gifts — what the groom's family gives to the bride's family) or 礼金 (monetary gifts from wedding guests). These are distinct customs with different social and economic dynamics.

Origin & History

嫁 (to marry — of a woman) + 妆 (makeup; adornment; trousseau — items for a bride's appearance and household)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal