A short, practical guide to the 8 Chinese measurement words you'll see on every Taobao, 1688, Shein and Temu listing — and the difference between body and garment measurements.
Quick answer: On Chinese size charts, 胸围 means bust or chest, 腰围 means waist, 肩宽 means shoulder width, 衣长 means garment length, and 臀围 means hip. Measure in centimeters first, then compare with the seller's chart.
These appear, in one order or another, on every Chinese size chart. Memorise them once and you can read any listing.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 胸围 | xiōng wéi | Bust |
| 腰围 | yāo wéi | Waist |
| 臀围 | tún wéi | Hip |
| 肩宽 | jiān kuān | Shoulder width |
| 衣长 | yī cháng | Garment length (shoulder to hem) |
| 袖长 | xiù cháng | Sleeve length |
| 裤长 | kù cháng | Pant length |
| 身高 | shēn gāo | Wearer's height |
Familiar letters, but calibrated for slimmer frames. Plan to read one to two sizes larger than you normally wear. See the women's converter for the exact mapping.
The Chinese national standard (GB/T 1335). Three parts:
So 160/84A fits a 160 cm woman with an 84 cm bust, standard build. Full decode on the 160/84A page.
The biggest source of returns from Chinese stores: a listing says 胸围 96 cm and you read it as your bust measurement, when actually the seller is reporting the flat-laid garment width (half the circumference, doubled).
If the seller says this is finished garment measurement, it may mean the garment bust circumference is 96 cm. Compare it with your body bust plus ease.
Shoulder width is measured across the garment from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. It does not double like bust or waist.
Garment length usually means shoulder to hem for tops or dresses. It helps predict whether an item will sit cropped, regular or long.
Below every product, scroll past the studio shots to 买家秀 · mǎi jiā xiù (customer photos). Each post almost always lists the buyer's height and weight in cm/kg. Find a reviewer with your build and copy what they ordered.
Three Chinese review terms to look for: