tuō zhuāng: 脱妆 - (Of makeup) to come off, fade, or smudge

• Keywords: tuō zhuāng, tuozhuang, 脱妆, makeup coming off, makeup smudging Chinese, fix makeup Chinese, what is tuo zhuang, long-lasting makeup in Chinese, how to say makeup is smudged, Chinese beauty terms.
• Summary: “脱妆 (tuō zhuāng)” is a common and essential Chinese term that describes the undesirable situation when makeup starts to come off, fade, or smudge due to sweat, oil, or time. Understanding “tuō zhuāng” is key to navigating daily conversations, social media, and the world of Chinese beauty products, where preventing it is a major focus. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, contrasting it with related terms like intentionally removing makeup (卸妆, xiè zhuāng).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tuō zhuāng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: N/A (but extremely common in daily life)
• Concise Definition: For makeup to unintentionally come off, smudge, fade, or wear away.
• In a Nutshell: “脱妆 (tuō zhuāng)” is that frustrating moment when your perfectly applied makeup starts to fail you. Imagine your foundation getting patchy, your eyeliner running, or your lipstick fading after a meal. It's the opposite of having a fresh, clean look. The term captures the entire process of makeup breaking down over the course of a day.

• 脱 (tuō): This character means “to take off,” “to shed,” or “to escape from.” Think of taking off your coat (脱外套, tuō wàitào) or a snake shedding its skin. It implies something coming off, either intentionally or naturally.
• 妆 (zhuāng): This character means “makeup” or “adornment.” The left-side radical is 女 (nǚ), meaning “woman,” which hints at its connection to appearance and cosmetics.

When combined, 脱妆 (tuō zhuāng) literally means “makeup coming off.” It perfectly describes the process of cosmetics “shedding” from the face.

In modern Chinese culture, particularly in urban areas and among younger generations, maintaining a polished and well-put-together appearance is highly valued. This has been amplified by the influence of Korean and Japanese beauty trends, which emphasize flawless, long-lasting looks. Consequently, 脱妆 (tuō zhuāng) is more than just a minor inconvenience; it can be a source of genuine social anxiety. It's a common topic of conversation among friends, a major theme on social media platforms like 小红书 (xiǎo hóng shū), and a primary focus for the cosmetics industry in China.

• Comparison to Western Culture: While people in the West certainly talk about makeup smudging or fading, “脱妆 (tuō zhuāng)” exists as a more concrete, high-frequency “concept word.” In English, you might say, “My foundation is getting cakey,” “My mascara is running,” or “My lipstick wore off.” In Chinese, “我脱妆了 (wǒ tuō zhuāng le)” can cover all of these situations. It's a single, powerful term that encapsulates the entire problem, leading to a huge market for products that are “防脱妆 (fáng tuō zhuāng)” - anti-smudging, or “持妆 (chí zhuāng)” - long-lasting.

This term is used constantly in informal, everyday situations.

• Daily Conversation: Friends will often complain about the weather causing them to 脱妆 or ask to borrow a mirror to check if they have 脱妆. It's a very common, casual complaint.
• Social Media and Beauty Blogs: Beauty influencers on platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu will test products specifically for their ability to resist 脱妆. You'll see titles like “夏日防脱妆粉底测评” (Summer anti-smudge foundation review).
• Cosmetics Marketing: This is a major buzzword in advertising. Products are heavily marketed with promises like “12小时不脱妆” (12-hours no-smudge wear) or “控油持妆” (oil-control and long-lasting).
• Connotation: The term is inherently negative, as it describes an undesirable state of appearance.

• Example 1:
  • 夏天天气太热，我一流汗就脱妆。
  • Pinyin: Xiàtiān tiānqì tài rè, wǒ yī liú hàn jiù tuō zhuāng.
  • English: The weather in summer is too hot; my makeup comes off as soon as I sweat.
  • Analysis: A very common complaint, directly linking a cause (sweating) to the result (脱妆).
• Example 2:
  • 你看一下，我的眼线脱妆了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn yīxià, wǒ de yǎnxiàn tuō zhuāng le ma?
  • English: Can you take a look for me, has my eyeliner smudged?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how it's used as a question to check one's appearance with a friend.
• Example 3:
  • 这款粉底液主打的就是控油和防脱妆。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn fěndǐyè zhǔdǎ de jiùshì kòngyóu hé fáng tuō zhuāng.
  • English: The main selling point of this liquid foundation is oil control and preventing makeup from coming off.
  • Analysis: This is typical marketing language. 防 (fáng) means “to prevent,” so 防脱妆 means “smudge-proof” or “transfer-proof.”
• Example 4:
  • 我得去一下洗手间补个妆，我的口红都脱妆了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi qù yīxià xǐshǒujiān bǔ ge zhuāng, wǒ de kǒuhóng dōu tuō zhuāng le.
  • English: I need to go to the restroom to touch up my makeup, my lipstick has all come off.
  • Analysis: This sentence usefully pairs 脱妆 with its solution: 补妆 (bǔ zhuāng), which means “to touch up makeup.”
• Example 5:
  • 她哭得太伤心了，整个脸都脱妆了，看起来像一只小花猫。
  • Pinyin: Tā kū de tài shāngxīn le, zhěnggè liǎn dōu tuō zhuāng le, kànqǐlái xiàng yī zhī xiǎo huā māo.
  • English: She cried so sadly that her makeup smudged all over her face, making her look like a little panda (literally: “a small calico cat”).
  • Analysis: A vivid description of what severe 脱妆 (especially mascara and eyeliner) looks like. The “little calico cat” or “panda” analogy is common for describing running eye makeup.
• Example 6:
  • 为了防止脱妆，你最后一定要用定妆喷雾。
  • Pinyin: Wèile fángzhǐ tuō zhuāng, nǐ zuìhòu yīdìng yào yòng dìngzhuāng pēnwù.
  • English: To prevent your makeup from smudging, you must use a setting spray at the end.
  • Analysis: This gives practical advice, introducing another related term: 定妆 (dìng zhuāng), “to set makeup.”
• Example 7:
  • 婚礼那天很长，我最担心的就是脱妆的问题。
  • Pinyin: Hūnlǐ nàtiān hěn cháng, wǒ zuì dānxīn de jiùshì tuō zhuāng de wèntí.
  • English: The wedding day is very long, the thing I'm most worried about is the problem of my makeup coming off.
  • Analysis: Highlights the anxiety associated with 脱妆 during an important event.
• Example 8:
  • 吃完火锅，我的底妆脱妆脱得很严重。
  • Pinyin: Chī wán huǒguō, wǒ de dǐzhuāng tuō zhuāng tuō de hěn yánzhòng.
  • English: After eating hotpot, my foundation smudged very severely.
  • Analysis: The steam from hotpot is a classic enemy of perfect makeup. This example shows how you can add an adverb like 严重 (yánzhòng - severe) to describe the extent.
• Example 9:
  • 你有没有不脱妆的口红推荐？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu bù tuō zhuāng de kǒuhóng tuījiàn?
  • English: Do you have any recommendations for lipstick that doesn't come off?
  • Analysis: A very practical question you might ask a friend or a sales assistant. “不脱妆” (bù tuō zhuāng) means “non-smudging.”
• Example 10:
  • 戴口罩一整天，脱妆是难免的。
  • Pinyin: Dài kǒuzhào yī zhěng tiān, tuō zhuāng shì nánmiǎn de.
  • English: Wearing a mask all day, it's inevitable that your makeup will smudge.
  • Analysis: A very modern and relatable example from recent years.

The most critical mistake for learners is confusing 脱妆 (tuō zhuāng) with 卸妆 (xiè zhuāng).

• 脱妆 (tuō zhuāng): Unintentional & Undesirable. This is when makeup smudges, fades, or melts away on its own because of sweat, oil, humidity, or time. You don't want this to happen.
  • Correct: 天太热了，我脱妆了。(Tiān tài rè le, wǒ tuō zhuāng le.) - It's too hot, my makeup is coming off.
• 卸妆 (xiè zhuāng): Intentional & Necessary. This is the deliberate act of removing your makeup with a cleanser or makeup remover at the end of the day. You want to do this.
  • Correct: 我每天睡觉前都会卸妆。(Wǒ měitiān shuìjiào qián dōu huì xiè zhuāng.) - I remove my makeup every day before sleeping.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • WRONG: 我回家后要脱妆。(Wǒ huí jiā hòu yào tuō zhuāng.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like you're saying “After I get home, I want my makeup to smudge off on its own.” You are intentionally removing it, so you must use 卸妆.
  • CORRECT: 我回家后要卸妆。(Wǒ huí jiā hòu yào xiè zhuāng.) - After I get home, I need to remove my makeup.

• 卸妆 (xiè zhuāng) - To intentionally remove makeup. The crucial counterpart to 脱妆.
• 补妆 (bǔ zhuāng) - To touch up or reapply makeup. This is the action you take when you have 脱妆.
• 化妆 (huà zhuāng) - To put on makeup. The first step in the entire process.
• 定妆 (dìng zhuāng) - To set makeup (usually with powder or spray) to prevent 脱妆.
• 持妆 (chí zhuāng) - (Of makeup) to be long-lasting; the ability to resist 脱妆.
• 底妆 (dǐ zhuāng) - Base makeup (foundation, concealer, etc.). This is often the first part of the face to 脱妆.
• 花妆 (huā zhuāng) - A very close synonym for 脱妆, often used to describe a messier smudge, especially with eye makeup. Literally “flowered makeup,” it evokes the image of colors bleeding together like a watercolor painting.
• 防水 (fáng shuǐ) - Waterproof. A quality in cosmetics (especially mascara and eyeliner) that helps prevent 脱妆.
• 控油 (kòng yóu) - Oil-control. A function of skincare or makeup products designed to prevent the skin's oil from causing 脱妆.