Chinese shoe sizing looks simple until one CN number maps to different US men's, women's, kids and toddler labels. This guide shows how to read the chart without losing the foot-length clue.
Quick answer: convert Chinese shoe size to US by checking foot length in centimeters first, then choose the correct US system: men, women, kids or toddler. CN 40 is about US women's 9 or US men's 7, but both point to about 25.0 cm foot length.
| Search intent | Best page to use | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese shoe size to US | Adult shoe converter | Gender and foot length |
| Chinese foot size to US | Foot size lookup | Heel-to-toe cm |
| Chinese shoe size to US women's | Women's shoe guide | CN row and foot length |
| Chinese shoe size to US men | Adult shoe converter | Men's US label |
| Chinese shoe size to US child | Child shoe lookup | Kids chart, not adult chart |
| Chinese shoe size to US toddler | Toddler shoe lookup | Toddler chart and cm row |
| Taobao shoe size chart | Taobao shoe size chart | Seller's foot-length row |
| US shoe size to Chinese | Reverse shoe converter | US men/women/kids context |
Many Chinese shopping pages use CN labels such as 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 in a way that looks like European sizing. That shortcut is useful, but it is not the whole conversion. Official shoe marking is tied to foot length, and online sellers often include a centimeter row beside the CN number.
That centimeter value is the part you should trust first. A CN 40 listing that says 25.0 cm is easier to evaluate than a listing that only says "size 40." If the shoe has a narrow last, pointed toe or thick lining, the same length can still feel tighter than expected.
CN 38 is usually around US women's 7.5, while CN 40 is around US women's 9 or US men's 7. CN 42 is usually around US men's 8.5. The number does not carry gender by itself, so the product type and seller chart matter.
If you are buying from Taobao, AliExpress, Shein, Temu or a seller using Chinese stock photos, look for rows labeled foot length, insole length or centimeters. Foot length is safer than translating only the size label.
CN 38 is usually about US women's 7.5 with a foot length around 24.0 cm. Check width for pointed shoes.
CN 40 is about US women's 9 or US men's 7. The shared anchor is roughly 25.0 cm foot length.
CN 42 is usually about US men's 8.5 with a foot length around 26.5 cm.
Do not convert kids shoes with the adult chart. Child and toddler labels use a different range and need age/foot-length context.
The companion Chinese shoe sizes and foot length guide explains why centimeter rows are safer than label-only conversion.