首饰

• Pinyin: shǒu shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 首 = pictograph of a head; 饰 = 食 + 巾 (nourish/feed + cloth — to adorn, to embellish)

Meaning

Jewellery; personal ornaments such as necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.

Originally referred specifically to head and hair ornaments (首 = head). Now covers all personal decorative jewellery. Beyond aesthetic value, 首饰 in Chinese culture often carries symbolic weight as gifts marking life milestones (marriage, birth, coming of age) and as vessels of family heritage or social status. Key compounds: 首饰盒 (jewellery box); 金首饰 (gold jewellery); 翡翠首饰 (jade jewellery). Distinguished from 珠宝 (precious stones and jewellery — broader, also includes loose gems).

Examples

1. 汉代贵族墓出土的首饰工艺精湛，让考古专家惊叹。 The jewellery unearthed from a Han dynasty noble tomb was exquisitely crafted and amazed archaeologists.
2. 在许多文化里，首饰既代表审美，也象征身份、传承和人生节点。 In many cultures, jewellery represents taste and also symbolizes status, family tradition, and major life milestones.
3. 随着可持续理念普及，设计师越来越多用回收金属和培育宝石制作首饰。 As sustainability becomes more popular, more designers are making jewellery from recycled metals and lab-grown gems.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, culture, archaeology, commerce, gift-giving

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这套清代宫廷首饰修复历时两年，修复师未用现代黏合剂，重现了原貌。(Restoring this set of Qing court jewellery took two years, and the restorers recreated the original look without modern adhesives.)
• 现代首饰设计正把陶瓷、木材和再生塑料纳入创作，回应多元审美。(Modern jewellery design is bringing ceramics, wood, and recycled plastic into its creations to respond to diverse tastes.)

Don't Say

• 首饰 to refer to loose gemstones or purely decorative non-wearable objects — use 珠宝 (precious gems and jewellery — broader) or 装饰品 (decorative items — general ornaments); 首饰 specifically denotes wearable personal jewellery

Origin & History

首 (head) + 饰 (adornment; to decorate — 食 food/nourish + 巾 cloth, suggesting ornamental covering) — originally head ornaments, now all personal jewellery

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal