窗帘 (chuāng lián) — Chinese Word

noun HSK 4

Traditional 窗簾

chuāng lián

curtain · drapes · window curtain

Meaning

窗帘 refers to fabric material hung at windows to block light, provide privacy, or serve as decoration. It's a common household item found in bedrooms, living rooms, and offices throughout Chinese-speaking regions.

Usage

This is the standard, everyday term for curtains in Mandarin. Native speakers use it in both casual and formal contexts. It's commonly paired with verbs like 拉 (to pull/draw) or 挂 (to hang). The term applies to all types of window coverings from sheer curtains to heavy drapes.

Examples

01
请帮我把窗帘拉上，阳光太刺眼了。
Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ chuāng lián lā shang, yáng guāng tài cì yǎn le.
Please help me close the curtains, the sunlight is too glaring.
02
我想买一副遮光窗帘，这样周末可以多睡一会儿。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī fù zhē guāng chuāng lián, zhè yàng zhōu mò kě yǐ duō shuì yī huǐ er.
I want to buy a set of blackout curtains so I can sleep in a bit more on weekends.

Characters

Measure words

副fù一副窗帘
扇shàn一扇窗帘

Common collocations

拉窗帘
lā chuāng lián
to draw/pull the curtains
挂窗帘
guà chuāng lián
to hang curtains
窗帘杆
chuāng lián gān
curtain rod
换窗帘
huàn chuāng lián
to change/replace curtains

Origin

The word literally means 'window curtain,' combining 窗 (window) and 帘 (a hanging screen or curtain). The character 帘 originally depicted a bamboo screen hanging in a doorway.