盛装 (shèng zhuāng) — splendid attire, formal dress | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A set of splendid, formal attire worn for special occasions like weddings or banquets — emphasizes the grandeur and ceremonial nature of the dress, not just any nice clothes.

noun

splendid attireformal dress

Measure word · 身

Examples

盛装。
Tā chuān zhuó yì shēn huá lì de shèng zhuāng chū xí wǎn yàn.
She attended the banquet in a set of splendid attire.
，盛装。
Hūn lǐ shàng, suǒ yǒu bīn kè dōu shēn zhuó shèng zhuāng.
At the wedding, all the guests were dressed in formal attire.
盛装。
Zhè chǎng shèng diǎn yāo qiú lái bīn chuān shèng zhuāng rù chǎng.
This grand ceremony requires guests to enter in splendid attire.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

盛shèngsplendid

装zhuāngattire

盛 (splendid) and 装 (attire) together mean splendid formal dress.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

成皿盛

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

成

成chéng盛shèng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

壯衣裝

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

壯

壯zhuàng裝zhuāng

Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.

Appears in

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