In this post I will cover vocabulary and phrases relating to makeup and cosmetics.
Check out my post on Chinese bathroom vocabulary and phrases, which provide some useful related vocabulary. You might also like my post on Chinese vocabulary for shopping.
Chinese Cosmetics Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | Pinyin Pronunciation | Literal Translation |
| compact |
|
fěn hé | powder – box |
| cosmetics |
|
huàzhuāngpǐn | |
| cotton buds |
|
miánhuā bàng | cotton – stick |
| cotton wool |
|
yàomián | medical – cotton |
| face |
|
fěn | |
| face cream (cold cream) |
|
xiāngzhī | fragrant – fat |
| fingernail |
|
jiǎ jiǎn | |
| lipstick |
|
kǒuhóng | Mouth Red |
| lipstick |
|
chúngāo | Lip Paste |
| mop |
|
tuōbǎ | drag – handle |
| nail polish |
|
zhǐjiǎ yóu | fingernail – oil |
| nail polish remover |
|
xǐ zhǐjiǎ yóu yè | wash – nail polish – liquid |
| powder puff (cosmetics) |
|
fěnpū | powder – fluffer |
| red nail polish |
|
hóngsè zhǐjiǎ yóu/ hóng zhǐjiǎ yóu | red (colour) – nail polish |
Chinese Cosmetics Phrases
| English | Chinese | Pinyin Pronunciation |
| I am lookIng for a lIpstIck to go wIth thIs naIl polIsh. |
|
wǒ zài zhǎo néng hé zhǐjiǎ yóu dāpèi de kǒuhóng |
| Get out a bottle of nail polish remover. |
|
qǔchū yī píng xiè jiǎ yè |
| She applied a clear nail polish with a brush. |
|
jí ‘tā yòng zhǐjiǎ shuā tú shàng wú sè de zhǐjiǎ yóu |
| I really like red nail polish |
|
wǒ hěn xǐhuān hóngsè zhǐjiǎ yóu |