防曬 / 防晒
fángshài
The English phrase "sunscreen" can be translated into Chinese as 防曬 / 防晒 (fángshài). If unsure, use 防曬 / 防晒. Wiktionary also lists 防曬霜 / 防晒霜 (fángshàishuāng).
Meaning: cream that protects the skin from the sun (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 防曬 / 防晒 | fángshài |
| 防曬霜 / 防晒霜 | fángshàishuāng |
What does it mean word for word?
The word 防曬 is composed of 防, meaning to prevent or guard against and 曬, meaning sun exposure or sunburn.
Which one should you use?
防曬 / 防晒 is often used as a general term for the concept of sun protection or the act of blocking the sun. If you want to specifically refer to the physical cream or lotion, use 防曬霜 / 防晒霜. The addition of 霜 (cream/lotion) makes the term specific to the topical product.
How do you pronounce it?
fángshài
Did you know?
- The concept of 防曬 is tied to a long-standing cultural preference for pale skin, which is historically associated with higher social status and indoor leisure.
- The word 霜 in 防曬霜 literally means 'frost', reflecting the creamy, white consistency of the lotion when applied to the skin.
- The character 曬 specifically describes the action of the sun drying something, such as hanging laundry or drying grain, making the word for 'sunscreen' literally 'preventing the drying effect'.
Examples in context
- 你带了防晒油吗？Did you bring sunscreen?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sunscreen” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
