帳篷 / 帐篷
zhàngpéng
In Chinese, the English word 'tent' is translated as 帳篷 / 帐篷 (zhàngpéng). If unsure, use 帳篷 / 帐篷. Wiktionary also lists 帳幕 / 帐幕 (zhàngmù) and 帳棚 / 帐棚 (zhàngpéng).
Meaning: portable lodge (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 帳篷 / 帐篷 | zhàngpéng |
| 帳幕 / 帐幕 | zhàngmù |
| 帳棚 / 帐棚 | zhàngpéng |
The term 帳篷 / 帐篷 is the standard, most common term used in modern daily life for camping equipment.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 帳篷 / 帐篷 is composed of 帳 (zhàng), meaning curtain or cloth and 篷 (péng), meaning a canopy or awning.
Which one should you use?
While 帳篷 / 帐篷 refers to a functional camping tent, 帳幕 / 帐幕 is a more literary or formal term often used to describe large-scale ceremonial tents or even a 'curtain' of troops in historical contexts. Additionally, 帳棚 / 帐棚 is another way to write the word for tent.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is zhàngpéng.
Did you know?
- The word 帳 (zhàng) also refers to a 'financial account' or 'bill' in modern Chinese. This is because ancient records were often kept on strips of cloth or curtains hung in a room.
- In classical literature, the act of 'tearing down the tent' (撤帳) often symbolizes the end of a military campaign or the death of a high-ranking leader.
- The character 篷 (péng) is used not only for tents but also for the 'canopy' of a boat. This reflects a linguistic history where portable shelters and boat covers were viewed as the same type of fabric protection.
Examples in context
- 我在商店买了一个帐篷。I bought a tent at the store.
- 我们在野外露营，带上了小帐子。We went camping outdoors and brought a small tent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tent” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
