cheongsam

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word cheongsam. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word cheongsam, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say cheongsam in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word cheongsam you have here. The definition of the word cheongsam will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofcheongsam, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

T-ara wearing red cheongsams performing onstage in Hong Kong

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

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

Further reading