Qipao vs. Cheongsam: What is the Difference?

Are you wondering what is the difference between a qipao and a cheongsam? Then you are at the right place!

Composed of traditional Chinese dressmakers, our team will be glad to help you answer this question to learn more about Chinese culture through history, fashion, and their specificities.

In modern days, the words Qipao and Cheongsam have the same meaning and they both can be used to describe a traditional Chinese female dress with a mandarin collar. The primary difference between Qipao and Cheongsam is in their language of origin, pronunciation, and history.

In this article, you will discover:

• Why are two words referring to this dress
• The exact difference between Qipao and Cheongsam
• When should you say one or the other

The Qipao vs. Cheongsam subject will have no more mystery to you. Let’s dive into this fascinating topic together!

Qipao vs. Cheongsam: Why are there two words?

As someone learning more about Chinese culture, you might be questioning why there are two words qipao vs. cheongsam that have a similar meaning. The answer is connected to the high amount of languages spoken in China.

There are several hundred local dialects that exist in the country with Mandarin Chinese being the most used official language. One of them is the Cantonese language that originated in the city of Guangzhou also known as Canton. The Cantonese language is commonly spoken in Southeast China, Hong Kong, and Macao.

The word Qipao comes from the Mandarin Chinese language and it can be translated as the “banner robe” or “flag gown”. You can go further and learn what is a qipao.

The word Cheongsam has its linguistic origins in the Cantonese language and is a romanization of the word chèuhngsāam in English. It means “long robe” and in the past, it was used to speak about the baggy dress with a standing collar worn by both women and men.

Nowadays, both Qipao and Cheongsam can be used interchangeably, as they refer to the same type of Chinese national dress with a high collar. This similarity reflects the shared appreciation of this iconic female attire among various linguistic and regional backgrounds.

What is the difference between Qipao and Cheongsam?

Now that you know that Qipao and Cheongsam describe the same type of Chinese garment, let’s look into what makes those two words so different from one another. What is the reason some parts of China prefer to say cheongsam instead of qipao and vice versa?

Here is the list of key differences between qipao and cheongsam:

Historical differences

When it comes to historical context both the terms qipao and cheongsam have different backgrounds, time periods, and events that they’re tied to.

The historical origins of qipao are closely linked to the Qing Dynasty founded by Manchurians. It was the last imperial dynasty to rule China from 1644 to 1911. During that time, the Eight Banner system was adopted for better administrative and military organization of the country. Therefore, the qipao became known as the banner gown that was worn by the Manchurian ethnicity to differentiate themselves in the social ranks of society. It was a sign of nobility and royal descent and the dress was made of the most expensive silk fabrics with sophisticated ornaments.

The story of cheongsam started later and was marked by the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Chinese Revolution in the late 1910s. With the big changes in society, the traditional Qing dynasty dress also underwent a transformation. The loose silhouette was modernized to be more practical and fitting, the length of the Chinese dress was shortened, and the fabrics of the cheongsam became more accessible to a wider number of women.

Cheongsam reached the peak of its popularity in the 1920s in Shanghai. With the updated and more Westernised design, it became the most fashionable and iconic dress worn by Shanghai socialites, celebrities, and actresses.

Linguistic differences

From the linguistic point of view, the words qipao and cheongsam come from two different languages and have distinct meanings.

Qipao originates from Mandarin Chinese, which is the most common spoken language in China. The term is composed of two characters “Qi’ and “Pao”, which can be respectively translated as “banner or flag” and “dress or gown”. This article will tell you more about the qipao pronunciation.

On the other hand, the term Cheongsam comes from the Cantonese language, which is one of the native languages in China. The original Cantonese word “chèuhngsāam” was adapted over time to the term “cheongsam” that we know today. It is made of two main parts: “Cheong” and “Sam” which stand for “long” and “gown or shirt”.

Geographical differences

Both the terms cheongsam vs. qipao are used to describe the Chinese dress with a mandarin collar in different parts of the world. Whether the people will use one word or the other will depend on the type of language spoken in that particular geographical area.

Mandarin Chinese speakers are more likely to use the term qipao which comes from their language. As one of the most common languages in the world and the official language of China, it is typically spoken in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Mandarin Chinese is the main language of many Chinese diasporas in different countries who are living abroad.

As the word cheongsam is a part of the Cantonese language, you will most likely hear it from people who are fluent in this language. Cantonese is one of the oldest Chinese dialects which has a rich history and cultural heritage. Its appearance is tied to the city of Guangzhou also previously known as Canton. This town became one of the most important and largest Chinese harbors of the maritime Silk Road.

This influence has helped to spread and popularize Cantonese further in the Guangdong province of China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Furthermore, the Cantonese language is spoken by a huge proportion of Chinese immigrants overseas.

When should you say Cheongsam vs. Qipao?

Now that you have learned the difference between the words qipao and cheongsam, you would like to find out how to appropriately use them in different contexts:

Say Cheongsam in Southeast Asia

The term Cheogsam will be easily understood when speaking to someone who masters the Cantonese language.

Cantonese is commonly used in:

• Southeast China
• Hong Kong
• Macau
• Vietnam
• Canada
• main Cantonese-speaking diasporas

Use Qipao in Mandarin-speaking areas

The word Qipao can be used to describe a traditional Chinese dress when you are talking to a Mandarin Chinese speaker. Mandarin Chinese is the main language of 70% of the Chinese population.

It is spoken in:

• Mainland China
• Taiwan
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• different overseas Chinese communities

Do not be scared to mix up the terms

As nowadays qipao or cheongsam can be used in an identical way, it won’t be considered a mistake to say for example cheongsam to a Mandarin speaker. The person would still be able to understand the word and what you mean by it.

Nevertheless, it is always great to be aware of the linguistic specificities and cultural background when using a foreign word. This would give you a better comprehension and sense of tact when using either cheongsam or qipao.

Qipao or Cheongsam: Fall for our dresses

In this blog article, we made a deep dive into what is the difference between qipao and cheongsam. After reading it you now have a good understanding of the linguistic roots and historical and cultural background of those two terms.

We hope that you have appreciated discovering more about what makes both of the words unique and distinct. No matter if you prefer using the term qipao or cheongsam, we think that you would agree with us on how iconic and significant this elegant Chinese female dress is.

This is why we would like to invite you to take your interest one step further by exploring our traditional Chinese dresses. Specialized in handmade Qipao and Cheongsam, our boutique will offer you feminine and sophisticated gowns for events or everyday life.

Click on this link to discover our traditional qipaos and cheongsams.

We have no doubt that you will find the perfect dress to make a fashion statement and show your appreciation of timeless Chinese heritage.