短装 (duǎn zhuāng) — traditional Chinese-style jacket and trousers (worn as a set)

Definition

短装 (duǎnzhuāng) is a matching jacket-and-trousers set in the traditional Chinese style, usually worn for cultural or festive occasions rather than daily wear.

noun
traditional Chinese-style jacket and trousers (worn as a set)
Measure word · 套

Examples

  • 短装。
    Zhè jiàn duǎn zhuāng kàn qǐ lái hěn yǒu chuán tǒng fēng gé.
    This traditional jacket and trousers set looks very traditional in style.
  • 短装。
    Tā chuān zhuó duǎn zhuāng cān jiā le mín zú jié rì.
    He wore the traditional outfit to the ethnic festival.
  • 短装。
    Bó wù guǎn lǐ zhǎn shì le yí tào qīng dài duǎn zhuāng.
    The museum displayed a set of Qing dynasty short jacket and trousers.

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.

短duǎnshort
装zhuāngoutfit

短 gives short and 装 gives outfit, yielding a short traditional outfit.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →

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.

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.

Open 装 →

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