燕尾服
yānwěifú
The Chinese word for tuxedo is 燕尾服 (yānwěifú).
燕尾服 is used to refer to a formal suit, specifically a tuxedo.
Meaning: formal suit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term literally means 'swallowtail suit', where 燕尾 means 'swallow's tail', referring to the distinctive shape of the coat tails.
How do you pronounce it?
yānwěifú
Did you know?
- The term 服 in 燕尾服 can be used as a noun for 'clothing' or a verb meaning 'to obey', creating a pun in certain literary contexts.
- In Chinese cinema and media, a character wearing a 燕尾服 is often a visual shorthand to signal that a person is a Western-style butler or a professional performer.
- If you are looking for a standard business suit rather than a tuxedo, you would use the word 西装 (xīzhuāng), which literally means 'Western clothing'.
Examples in context
- 黑色的礼服A black tuxedo
- 他穿了一件黑色的燕尾服。Tā chuānle yī jiàn hēisè de yànwěifú.He is wearing a black tuxedo.
- 这件燕尾服看起来很正式。Zhè jiàn yànwěifú kàn qǐlái hěn zhèngshì.This tuxedo looks very formal.
- 晚宴需要穿燕尾服吗？Wǎnyàn xūyào chuān yànwěifú ma?Do I need to wear a tuxedo for the banquet?
Example conversation
浩然 and 梓涵 are discussing what to wear to a formal wedding gala.
- 浩然 Haoran梓涵，晚宴需要穿燕尾服吗？Zǐhán, wǎnyàn xūyào chuān yànwěifú ma?Zihan, do I need to wear a tuxedo for the banquet?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，浩然，必须穿燕尾服。Shì de, Hàorán, bìxū chuān yànwěifú.Yes, Haoran, you must wear a tuxedo.
- 浩然 Haoran那我的那件燕尾服在哪儿？Nà wǒ de nà jiàn yànwěifú zài nǎ'er?Then, where is my tuxedo?
- 梓涵 Zihan就在你的衣柜里。Jiù zài nǐ de yīguì lǐ.It is right in your wardrobe.
