雪纺
xuě fǎng
The English word "chiffon" is translated into Mandarin as 雪纺 (xuě fǎng).
雪纺 is a noun used to refer to chiffon, which is a type of sheer silk or rayon fabric.
Meaning: sheer silk or rayon fabric (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 雪 (xuě), meaning 'snow' and 纺 (fǎng), meaning 'to spin/fabric', literally suggesting a fabric as light and white as snow.
How do you pronounce it?
xuě fǎng
Did you know?
- While 雪纺 refers to the fabric, a 'chiffon cake' is translated as 戚风蛋糕 (qī fēng dàngāo), which uses a phonetic transliteration of the English word instead of the 'snow' character.
- While the English word 'chiffon' is derived from the French word for 'rag', the Mandarin term 雪纺 avoids any negative connotation of being a scrap of cloth.
- Because 雪纺 is associated with weightlessness, it is often paired with the word 飘逸 (piāo yì), a term used to describe the 'fluttering' movement of clothes in traditional Chinese poetry.
Examples in context
- 这件雪纺衬衫很轻薄。Zhè jiàn xuěfǎng chènshān hěn qīngbó.This chiffon shirt is very light and thin.
- 我喜欢雪纺材质的裙子。Wǒ xǐhuān xuěfǎng cáizhì de qúnzi.I like skirts made of chiffon material.
- 这种雪纺面料容易皱。Zhè zhǒng xuěfǎng miànliào róngyì zhòu.This kind of chiffon fabric wrinkles easily.
Example conversation
In a clothing store, a woman is choosing a dress.
- 欣怡 Xinyi志强，你看这件雪纺连衣裙怎么样？Zhìqiáng, nǐ kàn zhè jiàn xuěfǎng liányīqún zěnmeyàng?Zhiqiang, what do you think of this chiffon dress?
- 志强 Zhiqiang感觉很适合你。Gǎnjué hěn shìhé nǐ.It looks very suitable for you.
- 欣怡 Xinyi可是雪纺的感觉有点太透了。Kěshì xuěfǎng de gǎnjué yǒudiǎn tài tòu le.But the chiffon feels a bit too sheer.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你可以里面穿件背心。Nǐ kěyǐ lǐmiàn chuān jiàn bèixīn.You can wear a camisole underneath.
