旗袍

• Pinyin: qí páo
• Hanzi breakdown: 旗 = 方 + 其 + 斤 (Manchu banner flag); 袍 = 衤(clothing radical) + 包 (wrap/bundle)

Meaning

Qipao; cheongsam. A traditional Chinese garment with a form-fitting silhouette, high collar, and characteristicside slits.

Originating from Manchu Banner dress and popularised in 1920s–1930s Shanghai. A symbol of Chinese femininity and elegance. Worn at formal occasions, weddings, cultural events, and national celebrations.

Examples

1. 她身着一件绣有牡丹图案的大红旗袍，端庄典雅，光彩照人。 She wore a bright red qipao embroidered with peonies, dignified and elegant, radiant and striking.
2. 旗袍是中国女性传统服饰的杰出代表，完美展现了东方美学。 The qipao is an outstanding representative of traditional Chinese women’s clothing, perfectly showcasing Eastern aesthetics.
3. 上海旗袍博物馆珍藏了各个历史年代的精美旗袍实物。 The Shanghai Qipao Museum has a treasured collection of exquisite qipaos from different historical periods.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, culture, tradition

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 她特地量身定制了一件合体的旗袍，准备出席盛大的晚宴。(She had a perfectly fitted qipao specially made to order for the grand banquet.)
• 旗袍的剪裁工艺极为讲究，需要精通多种传统手工缝制技法。(The tailoring craft of the qipao is exacting in the extreme, requiring mastery of multiple traditional hand-sewing techniques.)

Don't Say

• 旗袍只是一件普通衣服 — it carries deep cultural and historical significance; acknowledging its heritage shows cultural respect

Origin & History

旗 (Manchu 'Banner' — 旗人, Banner people of the Qing dynasty) + 袍 (long robe)

Cultural Context

Era: Qing dynasty–modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal