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嫁妆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嫁妆jiàzhuangdowryHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #19022, Very Hard
jiàzhuang(jia4zhuang5)jia zhuang T4
  1. 1dowry
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March 24, 2026

嫁妆(嫁妝)jiàzhuang(jia4zhuang5)

嫁妆 (jiàzhuāng) refers to the dowry that a bride brings to her husband's family upon marriage. It is a traditional practice in many cultures, including Chinese, where it signifies the bride's family wealth and social status, and is often seen as a way to support the couple's new life together.

Strokes19Frequency#19022DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese weddings, the dowry not only reflects the bride's family's wealth but also serves as a form of security for the bride, reinforcing her status within her new family. It often includes items like jewelry, household goods, and money.

Memory tip

Imagine a bride, adorned with beautiful clothes (the '妆' part), carrying bags of gold and gifts (the '嫁' part) to her new home. The sound 'jia' resembles 'ja' in 'jackpot,' suggesting the wealth she brings, while 'zhuang' sounds like 'zone,' representing the new zone of life she enters.

Meanings of 嫁妆

jiàzhuang(jia4zhuang5)
1dowry
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About 嫁妆

嫁妆Simplified
嫁妝Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 嫁妆

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AI study notes for 嫁妆

Quick Contrast

聘礼 (pìn lǐ) — 嫁妆 refers to the dowry brought by the bride, while 聘礼 refers to the bride price given by the groom's family.

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in formal contexts and is often associated with cultural discussions about marriage customs. Be careful not to confuse it with '陪嫁' (péi jià), which refers to gifts given to the bride by her family. The tone of each character is crucial; incorrect tones can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 嫁妆 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to themes of marriage and family found in HSK Level 3 and 4. Students should focus on the cultural significance of dowries in Chinese society to better understand related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嫁妆 with other terms related to marriage, such as '聘礼' (pìn lǐ - betrothal gift). A common mistake is to use 嫁妆 when referring to gifts exchanged between the couple, which is incorrect; these should be referred to as '婚礼礼物' (hūn lǐ lǐ wù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嫁妆

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Component characters

嫁jià(of a woman) to marry
HSK 613 strokes女
View full entry
妆zhuāng(of a woman) to adorn oneself
6 strokes女
View full entry

How to say dowry in Chinese

“dowry” in Chinese is嫁妆jiàzhuang

嫁妆 (jiàzhuāng) refers to the dowry that a bride brings to her husband's family upon marriage. It is a traditional practice in many cultures, including Chinese, where it signifies the bride's family wealth and social status, and is often seen as a way to support the couple's new life together.

When to use 嫁妆

This term is typically used in formal contexts and is often associated with cultural discussions about marriage customs. Be careful not to confuse it with '陪嫁' (péi jià), which refers to gifts given to the bride by her family. The tone of each character is crucial; incorrect tones can change the meaning.

嫁妆 or something close to it

聘礼 (pìn lǐ) — 嫁妆 refers to the dowry brought by the bride, while 聘礼 refers to the bride price given by the groom's family.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嫁妆 with other terms related to marriage, such as '聘礼' (pìn lǐ - betrothal gift). A common mistake is to use 嫁妆 when referring to gifts exchanged between the couple, which is incorrect; these should be referred to as '婚礼礼物' (hūn lǐ lǐ wù).

Write 嫁妆

嫁
妆

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Cultural Notes for 嫁妆

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, dowries are less common, and weddings typically focus more on gifts exchanged between the couple rather than a bride's family providing wealth.

Frequently asked questions about 嫁妆

嫁妆 can include money, jewelry, household items, and other valuables, depending on the family's wealth and traditions.

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