The q¨ªp¨¢o (ÆìÅÛ) or ch'i-p'ao, also known as the cheongsam (éLÉÀ) or mandarin gown, is a body-hugging (after Shanghai modification) dress for women in China originating from the Manchus, modernized and improved in Shanghai.
The English landword cheongsam, which comes from the Cantonese pronunciation of the original Shanghainese term, is used for the garment when worn by either men or women.
The word qipao refers only to women's clothes. Cheongsam was the formal dress for Chinese men before Western-style suits became common in China; it is not often worn today, except during traditional Chinese celebrations or as stylish party dress.
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