kǒuhóng: 口红 - Lipstick

• Keywords: 口红, kouhong, lipstick in Chinese, how to say lipstick in Chinese, Chinese makeup, lip color in Chinese, buy lipstick China, 口红效应, lipstick effect, Chinese cosmetics
• Summary: 口红 (kǒuhóng) is the Chinese word for lipstick. Derived from the characters for “mouth” (口) and “red” (红), this term refers to lipstick of any color and is a cornerstone of the modern Chinese beauty and cosmetics industry. Beyond just makeup, 口红 is a symbol of personal style, confidence, a popular gift, and even an economic indicator known as the “lipstick effect” (口红效应). This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kǒuhóng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A cosmetic preparation for coloring the lips.
• In a Nutshell: 口红 (kǒuhóng) is the most common and direct word for lipstick in Mandarin Chinese. The characters literally translate to “mouth red,” making it a very intuitive word for beginners to learn and remember. It's an everyday item for millions of people in China, representing everything from a simple daily routine to a powerful statement of fashion and self-expression.

• 口 (kǒu): This character is a pictograph of an open mouth. It means “mouth,” “opening,” or “entrance.”
• 红 (hóng): This character means “red.” Red is an extremely auspicious and important color in Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, passion, and celebration.
• The combination is perfectly logical: the “red” (红) for your “mouth” (口). Even though modern lipsticks come in countless colors, the original and most classic color gives the product its name.

In modern China, 口红 (kǒuhóng) is more than just a cosmetic; it's a cultural and economic phenomenon.

• The Lipstick Effect (口红效应 - kǒuhóng xiàoyìng): This Western economic theory is particularly relevant in China. It observes that during economic downturns, consumers tend to cut back on large luxury purchases but will still indulge in smaller, affordable luxuries like a new tube of high-end lipstick. This has been repeatedly observed in the Chinese market, making lipstick sales a surprisingly robust economic indicator.
• Symbol of Modernity and Professionalism: For many urban Chinese women, wearing lipstick is a standard part of their professional attire, similar to a business suit in the West. It is seen as a sign of being put-together, confident, and showing respect for the occasion. Not wearing any makeup can sometimes be seen as not putting in enough effort, especially in client-facing roles.
• A Go-To Gift: Lipstick is an incredibly common and popular gift among friends, and especially from a boyfriend to a girlfriend. Major brands release limited-edition holiday sets that often sell out instantly. Gifting lipstick is seen as thoughtful yet relatively safe, as long as you have an idea of the recipient's preferred colors and brands.
• Social Media and Influencer Culture: China's beauty industry is heavily driven by social media influencers (known as 美妆博主 - měizhuāng bózhǔ). Influencers like Li Jiaqi (李佳琦), famously nicknamed the “Lipstick King” (口红一哥), can try on hundreds of shades in a single live stream, selling millions of units in hours. This has made specific shade numbers (色号 - sèhào) of certain brands into viral sensations.

口红 is used in everyday conversation, online shopping, and social media.

• In Daily Conversation: People talk about buying, wearing, or choosing lipstick. It's a common topic of conversation among friends and colleagues.
• Shopping: When buying lipstick, you will almost always discuss the 品牌 (pǐnpái - brand), 颜色 (yánsè - color), and most importantly, the 色号 (sèhào - shade number). The texture, such as 哑光 (yàguāng - matte) or 滋润 (zīrùn - moisturizing/satin), is also a key factor.
• Online: On platforms like Xiaohongshu (小红书) or Weibo (微博), users share “swatches” (试色 - shì sè) and reviews of different lipsticks. The term is used constantly in hashtags and posts related to beauty and fashion.

• Example 1:
  • 我想买一支新口红。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhī xīn kǒuhóng.
  • English: I want to buy a new lipstick.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct sentence for expressing a desire to go shopping. Note the measure word for lipstick is 支 (zhī).
• Example 2:
  • 你今天涂的口红颜色真好看！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān tú de kǒuhóng yánsè zhēn hǎokàn!
  • English: The color of the lipstick you're wearing today is so pretty!
  • Analysis: A common compliment. The verb for applying lipstick is 涂 (tú).
• Example 3:
  • 这支口红是什么牌子的？色号是多少？
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī kǒuhóng shì shénme páizi de? Sèhào shì duōshǎo?
  • English: What brand is this lipstick? What's the shade number?
  • Analysis: This is a very practical question when you see a lipstick you like on someone else. 牌子 (páizi) means brand, and 色号 (sèhào) is shade number.
• Example 4:
  • 我男朋友在情人节送了我一支口红。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nánpéngyǒu zài Qíngrénjié sòng le wǒ yī zhī kǒuhóng.
  • English: My boyfriend gave me a lipstick for Valentine's Day.
  • Analysis: This highlights the role of lipstick as a common romantic gift in China.
• Example 5:
  • 她出门前，总会花几分钟涂上口红。
  • Pinyin: Tā chūmén qián, zǒng huì huā jǐ fēnzhōng tú shàng kǒuhóng.
  • English: Before she goes out, she always spends a few minutes putting on lipstick.
  • Analysis: Shows lipstick as part of a daily routine. 涂上 (tú shàng) emphasizes the action of application.
• Example 6:
  • 这款口红虽然有点贵，但是颜色很正。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn kǒuhóng suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì yánsè hěn zhèng.
  • English: Although this lipstick is a bit expensive, the color is very pure/true.
  • Analysis: 颜色很正 (yánsè hěn zhèng) is a high compliment for a color, especially a red, meaning it's a “true” and vibrant shade. 款 (kuǎn) is a measure word for product model or style.
• Example 7:
  • 吃饭的时候要小心，别把口红吃掉了。
  • Pinyin: Chīfàn de shíhòu yào xiǎoxīn, bié bǎ kǒuhóng chī diào le.
  • English: Be careful when you're eating, don't eat your lipstick off.
  • Analysis: A practical and slightly humorous reminder. The 把 (bǎ) structure is used here to show the disposal of the lipstick.
• Example 8:
  • 我更喜欢哑光质地的口红，感觉更高级。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèng xǐhuān yàguāng zhìdì de kǒuhóng, gǎnjué gèng gāojí.
  • English: I prefer matte-textured lipsticks, I feel they are more high-class/sophisticated.
  • Analysis: Introduces vocabulary for describing lipstick textures: 哑光 (yàguāng) for matte and 质地 (zhìdì) for texture.
• Example 9:
  • 就算不化妆，涂一点口红也能让气色好很多。
  • Pinyin: Jiùsuàn bù huàzhuāng, tú yīdiǎn kǒuhóng yě néng ràng qìsè hǎo hěn duō.
  • English: Even if you don't wear makeup, applying a little lipstick can make your complexion look much better.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a very common mindset about lipstick in China. 气色 (qìsè) refers to one's complexion or healthy glow.
• Example 10:
  • 经济学家用“口红效应”来解释特殊时期的消费行为。
  • Pinyin: Jīngjì xuéjiā yòng “kǒuhóng xiàoyìng” lái jiěshì tèshū shíqī de xiāofèi xíngwéi.
  • English: Economists use the “lipstick effect” to explain consumer behavior during special periods.
  • Analysis: Directly uses the important cultural/economic concept associated with the term.

• Not Just for Red: A common mistake for beginners is to assume 口红 (kǒuhóng), with 红 (hóng - red) in its name, only refers to red lipstick. This is incorrect. 口红 is a general term for all stick-form lipsticks, regardless of color—be it pink, nude, orange, or even purple.
• 口红 vs. 唇彩 vs. 唇釉: These terms are not interchangeable.
  • 口红 (kǒuhóng): Refers specifically to traditional solid lipstick in a tube.
  • 唇彩 (chúncǎi): Lip gloss. This is typically sheerer, shinier, and comes in a tube with a wand applicator. It's for a glossy finish.
  • 唇釉 (chúnyòu): Lip glaze or liquid lipstick. This is a very popular product category in China. It has the high pigmentation of a lipstick but the liquid form and applicator of a gloss. It can be matte or glossy. Using 口红 when you mean 唇釉 would be imprecise.

• `化妆 (huàzhuāng)` - To put on makeup; the general act of applying cosmetics.
• `美妆 (měizhuāng)` - Beauty (as an industry or category); cosmetics.
• `唇彩 (chúncǎi)` - Lip gloss, a close relative of lipstick with a shinier finish.
• `唇釉 (chúnyòu)` - Lip glaze/liquid lipstick, another very popular lip product.
• `涂 (tú)` - The verb “to apply,” “to smear,” used for lipstick, lotion, and paint.
• `色号 (sèhào)` - Shade number; an essential term for identifying and buying specific lipstick colors.
• `试色 (shì sè)` - To swatch colors, especially for makeup like lipstick or eyeshadow.
• `口红效应 (kǒuhóng xiàoyìng)` - The Lipstick Effect, the economic theory that people buy small luxuries in hard times.
• `专柜 (zhuānguì)` - A brand's counter in a department store, where you would go to buy high-end 口红.
• `气色 (qìsè)` - Complexion, the healthy color/glow of one's face, which lipstick is said to improve.