时尚

shí shàng

fashion

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Understanding 时尚 (shí shàng)

The word 时尚 primarily means "fashion" or "trend" in modern Chinese. It often refers to clothing styles but can also extend to lifestyle and cultural trends. When someone or something is described as 时尚, it implies being stylish, trendy, and up-to-date with current popular culture.

Usage and Nuances

时尚 is commonly used to describe clothing, accessories, and personal style, but it also carries a broader cultural meaning related to modernity and trendiness. It is often used in marketing and media to appeal to younger audiences or those interested in contemporary culture.

Common Collocations

  • 时尚潮流 (shí shàng cháo liú): fashion trend, used to talk about the current popular styles.
  • 时尚 (shí shàng pǐn pái): fashion brand, referring to brands known for trendy products.
  • 时尚杂志 (shí shàng zá zhì): fashion magazine, a publication focused on fashion and lifestyle.

Register and Tone

时尚 is neutral and widely used in both formal and informal contexts. It is not slang but is very common in everyday conversation, advertising, and media.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 时尚 with 流行 (liú xíng), which also means "popular" or "trendy" but can apply more broadly to anything popular, including music, food, or ideas. 时尚 is more specific to fashion and style contexts.

Example Sentences

她总是穿得很时尚,走在潮流的前端。

Tā zǒng shì chuān de hěn shí shàng, zǒu zài cháoliú de qián duān.

She always dresses very fashionably, staying at the forefront of trends.

时尚不仅仅是穿衣风格,它还代表一种生活态度。

Shí shàng bù jǐn jǐn shì chuān yī fēnggé, tā hái dàibiǎo yī zhǒng

Fashion is not just about clothing style; it also represents a lifestyle

这家店专门卖时尚的服装和配饰,深受年轻人喜爱。

Zhè jiā diàn zhuānmén mài shí shàng de fúzhuāng hé pèishì, shēn shòu

This store specializes in selling fashionable clothes and accessories,