奶罩
nǎizhào
In Chinese, the English word bra is translated as 奶罩 (nǎizhào). Wiktionary also lists 胸罩 (xiōngzhào) and 乳罩 (rǔzhào).
Meaning: brassiere (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 奶罩 | nǎizhào |
| 胸罩 | xiōngzhào |
| 乳罩 | rǔzhào |
These terms are used to refer to a brassiere.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 奶罩 literally translates to 'milk cover', while 胸罩 translates to 'chest cover'.
Which one should you use?
胸罩 is the standard and neutral term used in retail and formal writing. 乳罩 is a more formal or technical term, often used in medical or more clinical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
nǎizhào
Did you know?
- The character 罩 in 胸罩 means 'cover' or 'hood' and is the same character used for a 'lamp shade' or a 'cage' used to protect vegetables from insects.
- In certain historical contexts or older literature, the concept of a 'bra' was replaced by the 肚兜, a traditional diamond-shaped fabric bodice tied around the chest and back.
- If you are shopping in a high-end boutique, staff are much more likely to use the term 内衣 (nèiyī), which means 'inner clothes', to avoid the bluntness of the word 'bra'.
Examples in context
- 我的胸罩髒了。My bra is dirty.This sentence shows how to use 胸罩 to describe a dirty bra.Tatoeba #5112341 by xjjAstrus, translation #4965687 by ieflicca
Example conversation
Haoran is helping Xiaowen carry shopping bags.
- 浩然 Haoran妳買了什麼？Nǐ mǎile shénme?What did you buy?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我買了一件奶罩。Wǒ mǎile yī jiàn nǎizhào.I bought a bra.
- 浩然 Haoran這袋子很輕。Zhè dàizi hěn qīng.This bag is very light.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen對，它很小。Duì, tā hěn xiǎo.Yes, it is very small.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bra” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
