coeng4 saam1長衫长衫
Jyutpingcoeng4 saam1
Yalechèuhng sāam
Definition
Cheongsam; a traditional Chinese long dress or gown.
colloquialclothingfestival
How it's used
Refers specifically to the iconic, form-fitting dress with a high collar and side slits that became popular in early 20th-century Shanghai and Hong Kong. While the term is often used interchangeably with 旗袍, many locals associate 長衫 more strongly with the traditional, slightly looser-fitting long gowns worn by men or the classic, elegant style of women's dresses from the mid-century period.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
She wore a beautiful cheongsam on her wedding day.
Related words
Common phrases
to have a cheongsam custom-made
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term changshan, which almost exclusively refers to the traditional long gown worn by men. In Hong Kong, using the term for a woman's dress is perfectly standard and expected.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
