From A-line classics to wrap-dress wizardry, this guide gives you the most useful Traditional Chinese terms for women’s dress styles, with pinyin right after and clear English glosses. You’ll get silhouettes, lengths, necklines, sleeves, fabrics, patterns, occasions, measure words, and natural shopping phrases that work from Taipei boutiques to online carts.
Core Dress Silhouettes
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| A-line dress | A 字洋裝 | A zì yáng zhuāng | Flares gently from waist |
| sheath | 直筒洋裝 | zhí tǒng yáng zhuāng | Straight, close to body |
| fit-and-flare | 合身擴裙洋裝 | hé shēn kuò qún yáng zhuāng | Fitted top, flared skirt |
| wrap dress | 裹身洋裝 | guǒ shēn yáng zhuāng | Tie-wrap closure |
| slip dress | 吊帶洋裝 | diào dài yáng zhuāng | Spaghetti straps, bias cut |
| shirt dress | 襯衫洋裝 | chèn shān yáng zhuāng | Shirt top + dress length |
| bodycon | 貼身洋裝 | tiē shēn yáng zhuāng | Body-hugging |
| empire waist | 高腰洋裝 | gāo yāo yáng zhuāng | Waistline under bust |
| mermaid | 魚尾洋裝 | yú wěi yáng zhuāng | Fitted to knee, flares |
| ball gown | 蓬裙禮服 | péng qún lǐ fú | Full skirt, formal |
| qipao/cheongsam | 旗袍 | qí páo | High collar, side slits |
| sundress | 夏日洋裝 | xià rì yáng zhuāng | Light fabric, casual |
| pinafore | 圍裙式洋裝 | wéi qún shì yáng zhuāng | Jumper-style |
| peplum dress | 荷葉邊洋裝 | hé yè biān yáng zhuāng | Ruffle at waist |
| two-piece set | 兩件式套裝 | liǎng jiàn shì tào zhuāng | Top + skirt/pants |
Example
這件A字洋裝很顯瘦。
zhè jiàn A zì yáng zhuāng hěn xiǎn shòu
This A-line dress is very slimming.
Lengths And Hems
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| mini | 迷你長度 | mí nǐ cháng dù | Above knee |
| knee-length | 膝上／及膝 | xī shàng / jí xī | At/just above knee |
| midi | 中長 | zhōng cháng | Mid-calf |
| tea-length | 七分長度 | qī fēn cháng dù | Between midi and ankle |
| maxi | 長洋裝 | cháng yáng zhuāng | Ankle/floor length |
| high-low hem | 前短後長 | qián duǎn hòu cháng | Asymmetric hem |
| slit | 開衩 | kāi chà | Side/back slit |
Example
我喜歡中長的裹身洋裝，走路不怕曝光。
wǒ xǐ huān zhōng cháng de guǒ shēn yáng zhuāng, zǒu lù bú pà pù guāng
I like midi wrap dresses—no wardrobe malfunctions while walking.
Necklines
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| crew neck | 圓領 | yuán lǐng | Round neck |
| V-neck | V 領 | V lǐng | |
| sweetheart | 愛心領 | ài xīn lǐng | Heart-shaped |
| square neck | 方領 | fāng lǐng | |
| halter | 繞頸領 | rào jǐng lǐng | Ties/loops at neck |
| high neck | 高領 | gāo lǐng | Not turtleneck-high in dresses |
| one-shoulder | 單肩 | dān jiān | |
| off-shoulder | 一字領／露肩 | yì zì lǐng / lù jiān | Straight across |
Sleeves
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| sleeveless | 無袖 | wú xiù | |
| cap sleeve | 短蓋袖 | duǎn gài xiù | Tiny sleeve cap |
| short sleeve | 短袖 | duǎn xiù | |
| three-quarter | 七分袖 | qī fēn xiù | |
| long sleeve | 長袖 | cháng xiù | |
| puff sleeve | 蓬蓬袖 | péng péng xiù | Puffy |
| bishop sleeve | 主教袖 | zhǔ jiào xiù | Fitted cuff, loose arm |
| bell sleeve | 喇叭袖 | lǎ bā xiù | Flares at wrist |
Fabrics And Materials
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| cotton | 棉 | mián | Breathable |
| linen | 亞麻／麻 | yà má / má | Summer favorite |
| silk | 絲／真絲 | sī / zhēn sī | Dressy |
| satin | 緞面 | duàn miàn | Shiny drape |
| chiffon | 雪紡 | xuě fǎng | Sheer, flowy |
| lace | 蕾絲 | léi sī | |
| knit | 針織 | zhēn zhī | Stretchy |
| denim | 牛仔布 | niú zǎi bù | |
| tulle | 網紗 | wǎng shā | For layers/skirts |
| sequins | 亮片 | liàng piàn | Party time |
Example
這件雪紡V領中長洋裝很涼，很適合夏天。
zhè jiàn xuě fǎng V lǐng zhōng cháng yáng zhuāng hěn liáng, hěn shì hé xià tiān
This chiffon V-neck midi dress is cool and perfect for summer.
Patterns And Details
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| solid color | 素色 | sù sè | Plain |
| floral | 碎花／花卉 | suì huā / huā huì | |
| polka dot | 圓點 | yuán diǎn | |
| stripes | 條紋 | tiáo wén | |
| plaid | 格紋 | gé wén | |
| animal print | 動物紋 | dòng wù wén | |
| ruching | 抽皺 | chōu zhòu | |
| pleats | 百摺 | bǎi zhé | |
| ruffles | 荷葉邊 | hé yè biān | |
| cutout | 鏤空 | lòu kōng | |
| slit detail | 開衩設計 | kāi chà shè jì |
Occasion And Style Labels
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| casual | 休閒 | xiū xián | |
| smart casual | 都會休閒 | dū huì xiū xián | City-chic |
| office-appropriate | 上班可 | shàng bān kě | Work-safe |
| cocktail | 小禮服 | xiǎo lǐ fú | Semi-formal |
| evening gown | 禮服 | lǐ fú | Formal |
| wedding guest | 婚禮穿搭 | hūn lǐ chuān dā | |
| date-night | 約會風 | yuē huì fēng | |
| vacation | 渡假風 | dù jià fēng | Resort vibe |
Example
這件貼身小禮服很適合約會或婚禮。
zhè jiàn tiē shēn xiǎo lǐ fú hěn shì hé yuē huì huò hūn lǐ
This bodycon cocktail dress is great for dates or weddings.
Measure Words, Sizes, And Fit
| Concept | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Example |
| measure word for clothing | 件 | jiàn | 一件洋裝 yí jiàn yáng zhuāng |
| size | 尺寸／大小 | chǐ cùn / dà xiǎo | 這個尺寸偏小 zhè ge chǐcùn piān xiǎo |
| small/medium/large | S／M／L／加大 | S / M / L / jiā dà | 台灣常用英文字母 |
| fits well | 合身 | hé shēn | 這件很合身 |
| loose | 寬鬆 | kuān sōng | |
| tight | 緊身 | jǐn shēn | |
| true to size | 尺寸正常 | chǐ cùn zhèng cháng | |
| runs small/large | 偏小／偏大 | piān xiǎo / piān dà |
Try-On And Shopping Phrases
我可以試穿這件嗎
wǒ kě yǐ shì chuān zhè jiàn ma
May I try this on
請問有中長、V領、無袖的款式嗎
qǐng wèn yǒu zhōng cháng, V lǐng, wú xiù de kuǎn shì ma
Do you have a midi, V-neck, sleeveless style
這件有別的顏色嗎（黑色／米色／海軍藍）
zhè jiàn yǒu bié de yán sè ma (hēi sè / mǐ sè / hǎi jūn lán)
Does this come in other colors (black/beige/navy)
我平常穿 M，這款會偏小嗎
wǒ píng cháng chuān M, zhè kuǎn huì piān xiǎo ma
I usually wear M—does this run small
腰線再高一點會比較好看
yāo xiàn zài gāo yì diǎn huì bǐ jiào hǎo kàn
A slightly higher waistline would look better
可以幫我改短一點嗎（到膝上）
kě yǐ bāng wǒ gǎi duǎn yì diǎn ma (dào xī shàng)
Could you shorten it a bit (to above the knee)
Compliments And Descriptions
這件顏色很襯妳的膚色。
zhè jiàn yán sè hěn chèn nǐ de fū sè
This color suits your skin tone.
剪裁很順、線條很好看。
jiǎn cái hěn shùn, xiàn tiáo hěn hǎo kàn
The tailoring is smooth, the lines are beautiful.
布料很涼、很有垂墜感。
bù liào hěn liáng, hěn yǒu chuí zhuì gǎn
The fabric is cool with a nice drape.
Styling Add-Ons (Accessories That Affect The Look)
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Note |
| belt | 腰帶 | yāo dài | Defines waist |
| slip (underdress) | 內襯裙 | nèi chèn qún | For sheer fabrics |
| shapewear | 塑身衣 | sù shēn yī | Smooth silhouette |
| petticoat | 蓬裙內襯 | péng qún nèi chèn | Volume for skirts |
| cardigan | 開襟外套 | kāi jīn wài tào | Layering |
| shawl/wrap | 披肩 | pī jiān | Formal fix |
Example
加一條細腰帶，比例會更好看。
jiā yì tiáo xì yāo dài, bǐ lì huì gèng hǎo kàn
Add a thin belt and the proportions will look better.
Fit Tweaks And Alterations
| Need | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Example |
| shorten hem | 改短下擺 | gǎi duǎn xià bǎi | 下擺改短三公分 |
| take in waist | 改小腰圍 | gǎi xiǎo yāo wéi | 腰圍收一點 |
| adjust straps | 調整肩帶 | tiáo zhěng jiān dài | 肩帶容易滑 |
| move slit | 調整開衩 | tiáo zhěng kāi chà | 開衩再高一點 |
Mini Dialogues
A：這件魚尾洋裝走路會不會不方便
A: zhè jiàn yú wěi yáng zhuāng zǒu lù huì bú huì bù fāng biàn
Will this mermaid dress be hard to walk in
B：下擺有開衩，活動度還可以。
B: xià bǎi yǒu kāi chà, huó dòng dù hái kě yǐ
There’s a slit at the hem—mobility is fine.
A：襯衫洋裝有沒有中長、條紋的
A: chèn shān yáng zhuāng yǒu méi yǒu zhōng cháng, tiáo wén de
Do you have a striped shirt dress in midi length
B：有，這款素色和條紋都有，尺寸到 L。
B: yǒu, zhè kuǎn sù sè hé tiáo wén dōu yǒu, chǐ cùn dào L
Yes—this style comes in solid and stripes, sizes up to L.
Quick Reference (Copy-Friendly)
| Need | Phrase (Trad + Pinyin) |
| wrap dress | 裹身洋裝 guǒ shēn yáng zhuāng |
| slip dress | 吊帶洋裝 diào dài yáng zhuāng |
| shirt dress | 襯衫洋裝 chèn shān yáng zhuāng |
| bodycon | 貼身洋裝 tiē shēn yáng zhuāng |
| midi length | 中長 zhōng cháng |
| V-neck | V 領 V lǐng |
| puff sleeve | 蓬蓬袖 péng péng xiù |
| chiffon | 雪紡 xuě fǎng |
| floral print | 碎花 suì huā |
| try on | 試穿 shì chuān |
| true to size | 尺寸正常 chǐ cùn zhèng cháng |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
Name five dresses in your closet using Chinese + pinyin (A字、吊帶、襯衫、貼身、旗袍).
Build one shopping question with three constraints: 長度＋領口＋袖型（例如：有沒有中長、V領、無袖的）.
Record a 20-second voice note describing fit and fabric using 合身／寬鬆＋棉／雪紡.
Write one compliment line using 襯＋顏色：這個顏色很襯妳。
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Dress words are just geometry with good taste: a neckline here, a waistline there, and the right hem to finish the story. Learn A 字、裹身、V 領、雪紡, sprinkle in 合身／偏小, and your Traditional Chinese style chat will fit as well as your favorite midi—clean lines, confident silhouette, zero tugging.