cheongsam

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
T-ara wearing red cheongsams performing onstage in Hong Kong

Etymology

[edit]

From Cantonese 長衫长衫 (coeng4 saam1, “long robe”).

Pronunciation

[edit]
This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA or enPR then please add some!

Noun

[edit]

cheongsam (plural cheongsams or cheongsam)

  1. A tight-fitting Chinese formal woman's dress, usually brightly coloured, patterned and/or embroidered, with a split at the thigh.
    Synonym: qipao
    • 2006, Shirley Jennifer Lim, A Feeling of Belonging: Asian American Women's Public Culture, 1930-1960, NYU Press, →ISBN:
      France Nuyen, and later Nancy Kwan, sexualized the cheongsam. Though people remember Kwan's movie portrayal of Suzie Wong, before her Nuyen earned fame and plaudits playing the prostitute with a heart of gold on Broadway.
    • 2011, Su Tong, Madwoman on the Bridge, Random House, →ISBN:
      A white velvet cheongsam! Except for people in movies, I've never seen anyone look as good in a cheongsam as she does.
  2. (Hong Kong) A plain coloured, tight-fitting dress with a short split at the thigh, worn as a school uniform by schoolgirls.
    • 2010, Anthony Sattin, Hong Kong & Macau, →ISBN, page 160:
      [C]otton cheongsams are still the uniform at several colleges and secondary schools.
  3. A long formal dress-like garment or robe worn by Asian men.
    Synonym: changshan

Translations

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]