Clothes in Chinese: Complete Vocabulary Guide (Tops, Bottoms, Shoes & Traditional Dress)

Whether you're shopping at a Chinese market, packing for a trip, or simply chatting with a native speaker about what you're wearing, knowing how to talk about clothes in Chinese is one of the most practical vocabulary sets you can build. From everyday garments to iconic traditional wear — including the famous Chinese hat name for every style — this guide covers everything you need to dress your Mandarin vocabulary from head to toe.

How to Say "Clothes" in Chinese

The general word for clothing in Mandarin is 衣服 (yīfu). It covers everything from a T-shirt to a formal gown. You'll also encounter 服装 (fúzhuāng), a slightly more formal term used in fashion contexts, and 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu), which means "to get dressed" or "to wear clothes."

A few essential phrases to start with:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
衣服	yīfu	clothes / clothing
服装	fúzhuāng	clothing / apparel (formal)
穿衣服	chuān yīfu	to wear clothes / to get dressed
脱衣服	tuō yīfu	to take off clothes
换衣服	huàn yīfu	to change clothes
买衣服	mǎi yīfu	to buy clothes

If you're just starting out with Mandarin basics, our guide on hello in Chinese covers the greetings you'll need before you even get to the shop.

Tops: Shirts, Jackets & Outerwear in Chinese

Tops are called 上衣 (shàngyī) in Mandarin — literally "upper garment." Here are the most common words:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
上衣	shàngyī	top / upper garment
T恤	T xù	T-shirt
衬衫	chènshān	shirt (button-up)
毛衣	máoyī	sweater
卫衣	wèiyī	hoodie / sweatshirt
外套	wàitào	coat / jacket
夹克	jiākè	jacket (casual, borrowed from English)
西装	xīzhuāng	suit jacket / business suit
大衣	dàyī	overcoat
羽绒服	yǔróng fú	down jacket / puffer jacket

Example sentences:

• 我想买一件白色衬衫。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī jiàn báisè chènshān.) — "I want to buy a white shirt."
• 天冷了，穿上外套吧。(Tiān lěng le, chuān shàng wàitào ba.) — "It's cold — put on your coat."

Bottoms: Pants, Skirts & Shorts in Chinese

Bottoms are 下装 (xiàzhuāng) or simply referred to by their specific name. The classifier for trousers and skirts is typically 条 (tiáo).

Chinese	Pinyin	English
裤子	kùzi	trousers / pants
牛仔裤	niúzǎikù	jeans (literally "cowboy trousers")
短裤	duǎnkù	shorts
运动裤	yùndòng kù	sweatpants / athletic pants
裙子	qúnzi	skirt / dress (general)
连衣裙	liányīqún	dress (one-piece, connected top and skirt)
半身裙	bànshēnqún	midi/maxi skirt (half-body skirt)
紧身裤	jǐnshēn kù	leggings / tight pants

Example sentences:

• 她穿了一条漂亮的连衣裙。(Tā chuān le yī tiáo piàoliang de liányīqún.) — "She's wearing a beautiful dress."
• 这条牛仔裤多少钱？(Zhè tiáo niúzǎikù duōshao qián?) — "How much are these jeans?"

Shoes & Footwear in Chinese

The word for shoes is 鞋子 (xiézi) or simply 鞋 (xié). Socks are 袜子 (wàzi).

Chinese	Pinyin	English
鞋子	xiézi	shoes
运动鞋	yùndòng xié	sneakers / sports shoes
皮鞋	píxié	leather shoes
高跟鞋	gāogēn xié	high heels
凉鞋	liángxié	sandals
拖鞋	tuōxié	slippers / flip-flops
靴子	xuēzi	boots
袜子	wàzi	socks

Example sentences:

• 我需要一双运动鞋。(Wǒ xūyào yī shuāng yùndòng xié.) — "I need a pair of sneakers."
• 脱鞋进来吧。(Tuō xié jìn lái ba.) — "Take off your shoes and come in."

Note the classifier for shoes: 双 (shuāng), meaning "pair" — the same as you'd use for socks and gloves.

Accessories in Chinese

Accessories — 配饰 (pèishì) or 饰品 (shìpǐn) — add the finishing touches to any outfit.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
帽子	màozi	hat / cap
围巾	wéijīn	scarf
手套	shǒutào	gloves
腰带	yāodài	belt
领带	lǐngdài	necktie
眼镜	yǎnjìng	glasses
项链	xiàngliàn	necklace
耳环	ěrhuán	earrings
手链	shǒuliàn	bracelet
戒指	jièzhi	ring
手表	shǒubiǎo	watch
包	bāo	bag / purse
背包	bèibāo	backpack

Chinese Hat Names: Every Style Explained

One of the most common questions from learners is: what is the Chinese hat name? In fact, Mandarin has a rich vocabulary for headwear, with words reflecting centuries of history.

The general word for hat is 帽子 (màozi), but specific styles have their own names:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
帽子	màozi	hat (general)
斗笠	dǒulì	conical straw hat (farm / fishing hat)
瓜皮帽	guāpí mào	skullcap (traditional men's hat, "melon-skin cap")
棒球帽	bàngqiú mào	baseball cap
太阳帽	tàiyáng mào	sun hat / visor
礼帽	lǐmào	top hat / formal hat
毛线帽	máoxiàn mào	knit hat / beanie
安全帽	ānquán mào	hard hat / helmet
贝雷帽	bèiléi mào	beret

The 斗笠 (dǒulì) is the iconic cone-shaped hat most Westerners picture when they think of a "Chinese hat" — historically worn by farmers, fishermen, and soldiers throughout East and Southeast Asia. The 瓜皮帽 (guāpí mào) is the small round skullcap associated with the Qing Dynasty, still seen in period dramas and traditional cultural contexts.

How to Say "Dress in Chinese"

Dress in Chinese has two main meanings depending on context:

1. As a noun (a dress/garment):

• 连衣裙 (liányīqún) — a one-piece dress
• 旗袍 (qípáo) — the classic form-fitting Chinese dress (see below)

2. As a verb (to dress / to get dressed):

• 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu) — to wear / put on clothes
• 打扮 (dǎban) — to dress up / to style oneself
• 穿着 (chuānzhuó) — clothing style / the way one dresses

Example sentences:

• 她今天打扮得很漂亮。(Tā jīntiān dǎban de hěn piàoliang.) — "She's dressed beautifully today."
• 请穿正式服装。(Qǐng chuān zhèngshì fúzhuāng.) — "Please dress formally."
• 他的穿着非常时髦。(Tā de chuānzhuó fēicháng shímáo.) — "His style of dressing is very fashionable."

Traditional Chinese Dress: Hanfu, Qipao & More

No guide to clothing vocabulary in Chinese would be complete without the traditional garments that have defined Chinese fashion for centuries.

旗袍 (Qípáo) — The Chinese Dress

The 旗袍 (qípáo), also known as a cheongsam, is the most internationally recognized traditional Chinese women's garment. Originally a loose-fitting Manchu robe from the Qing Dynasty, it was gradually tailored into the fitted silk dress known today. It is worn at weddings, banquets, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

• Characters: 旗袍
• Pinyin: qípáo
• Meaning: Literally "banner robe" — from 旗 (qí, banner/flag) + 袍 (páo, robe)

汉服 (Hànfú) — Han Chinese Traditional Clothing

汉服 (Hànfú) refers to the traditional clothing of the Han Chinese people, a style that dates back over 3,000 years. It features cross-collar necklines, flowing robes, and wide sleeves. The hanfu revival movement (汉服运动) has brought this ancient style back to Chinese streets and social media.

• Characters: 汉服
• Pinyin: Hànfú
• Meaning: Han garment / Han clothing

唐装 (Tángzhuāng) — Tang Suit

The 唐装 (tángzhuāng) is the traditional Chinese jacket with a Mandarin collar and frog button closures (盘扣, pán kòu). Despite the name, it developed in the Qing era, not the Tang Dynasty. It is commonly worn during the Spring Festival and formal occasions.

• Characters: 唐装
• Pinyin: tángzhuāng

马褂 (Mǎguà) — Mandarin Jacket

The 马褂 (mǎguà) is a short jacket worn over a long gown, closely associated with Qing Dynasty men's fashion. The most famous style is the 黄马褂 (huáng mǎguà), the imperial yellow jacket awarded by the emperor as an honor.

中山装 (Zhōngshān Zhuāng) — Mao Suit / Sun Yat-sen Suit

The 中山装 (named after Sun Yat-sen, 孙中山) is the iconic four-pocket tunic suit associated with modern Chinese political history. It features a standing collar, five front buttons, and four symmetrical pockets.

Colors and Fabrics: Essential Clothing Vocabulary in Chinese

When shopping for clothes in China, you'll need to describe colors and materials:

Colors (颜色, yánsè)

Chinese	Pinyin	English
红色	hóngsè	red
蓝色	lánsè	blue
绿色	lǜsè	green
黄色	huángsè	yellow
白色	báisè	white
黑色	hēisè	black
灰色	huīsè	grey
粉色	fěnsè	pink
紫色	zǐsè	purple
橙色	chéngsè	orange

Fabrics (面料, miànliào)

Chinese	Pinyin	English
棉	mián	cotton
丝绸	sīchóu	silk
麻	má	linen
羊毛	yángmáo	wool
皮革	pígé	leather
化纤	huàxiān	synthetic fiber

Shopping for Clothes in Chinese: Key Phrases

Here are the phrases you'll actually need in a store:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我可以试穿吗？	Wǒ kěyǐ shì chuān ma?	Can I try this on?
有没有大一号的？	Yǒu méiyǒu dà yī hào de?	Do you have a size larger?
这个多少钱？	Zhège duōshao qián?	How much is this?
太贵了。	Tài guì le.	That's too expensive.
能便宜一点吗？	Néng piányí yīdiǎn ma?	Can you lower the price?
我要这个颜色。	Wǒ yào zhège yánsè.	I'll take this color.
合适 / 不合适	héshì / bù héshì	fits well / doesn't fit

Building your overall Mandarin toolkit helps you use this vocabulary in real conversations — our guide on Chinese learning tips 2025 covers the fastest approaches to expanding your vocabulary efficiently.

Clothing Classifiers in Chinese

Chinese uses measure words (量词, liàngcí) with nouns, and clothes are no exception:

Classifier	Pinyin	Used For
件 (jiàn)	jiàn	shirts, jackets, coats, tops
条 (tiáo)	tiáo	trousers, skirts, scarves, ties
双 (shuāng)	shuāng	shoes, socks, gloves (pairs)
顶 (dǐng)	dǐng	hats
套 (tào)	tào	suits, sets of clothing

Examples:

• 一件衬衫 (yī jiàn chènshān) — one shirt
• 两条裤子 (liǎng tiáo kùzi) — two pairs of trousers
• 一顶帽子 (yī dǐng màozi) — one hat
• 三双鞋 (sān shuāng xié) — three pairs of shoes

Getting classifiers right is a key part of sounding natural in Mandarin. For kids learning the language, correct measure words are best picked up early — see our tips in Chinese for kids for age-appropriate strategies.

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References

• Hanfu — Traditional Chinese Clothing (Wikipedia)
• Qipao: History of the Chinese Cheongsam (V&A Museum)
• MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary
• Clothing Vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese — ThoughtCo

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