烫发
tàngfà
The Chinese verb for 'to perm' is 烫发 (tàngfà).
The term 烫发 can be used to describe both the chemical and heat-based process of perming hair and the resulting permed hair itself.
Meaning: To treat hair, to give waves, by using heat and chemicals (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
烫发 is composed of 烫 (tàng), meaning to scald or heat and 发 (fà), meaning hair.
Which one should you use?
While 烫发 is the standard term, 烫卷儿 (tàng juǎn er) is an informal way to express the same idea and 烫头 is a colloquial short form used in casual conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term for 'perm' is 燙髮.
How do you pronounce it?
tàngfà
Did you know?
- While 烫发 refers to perms, the opposite process of straightening hair is called 离子烫 (ionic perm), meaning that straightening is linguistically treated as a type of 'perm'.
- Because 烫 refers to heat, the same root is used to describe 'scalding' oneself with tea or soup, making the act of perming hair linguistically identical to suffering a kitchen burn.
- Because the character 发 in 烫发 is a homophone for the word meaning 'to get rich', many hair salons use the phrase in slogans to playfully suggest that a new hairstyle will bring the customer wealth and prosperity.
Examples in context
- 我想烫发。I want to get a perm.
- 她想去烫发。Tā xiǎng qù tàngfà.She wants to go get a perm.
- 我想烫发，但是怕伤头发。Wǒ xiǎng tàngfà, dànshì pà shāng tóufǎ.I want to perm my hair, but I'm afraid it will damage it.
- 这家店的烫发效果很好。Zhè jiā diàn de tàngfà xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo.The perm results at this shop are very good.
Example conversation
A woman is suggesting a new look to her boyfriend.
- 雨婷 Yuting伟，你觉得我烫发好看吗？Wěi, nǐ juédé wǒ tàngfà hǎokàn ma?Wei, do you think I would look good with a perm?
- 伟 Wei我觉得你现在的长发挺美的。Wǒ juédé nǐ xiànzài de chángfà tǐng měi de.I think your current long hair is quite beautiful.
- 雨婷 Yuting可是我想尝试一下烫发。Kěshì wǒ xiǎng chángshì yīxià tàngfà.But I want to try a perm.
- 伟 Wei如果你喜欢，那就去烫吧。Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuān, nà jiù qù tàng ba.If you like it, then go ahead and get it.
