also: ちょうさん · ちょーさん · ちゃんさん
noun
cheongsam; mandarin gown
A traditional Chinese dress, often with a high collar and side slits. In Japanese, usually written in katakana as チョンサン. Compare with チャイナドレス, which is the more common term for the same garment.
See also: チャイナドレス
彼女は赤いチョンサンを着てパーティーに行った。
She went to the party wearing a red cheongsam.
チャイナドレス is the more common Japanese term for the same garment. チョンサン is closer to the original Chinese/Korean pronunciation and may be used in more specific cultural contexts.
Borrowed from Korean 치파오 (ch'ip'ao) or directly from Chinese 長衫 (chángshān). The katakana spelling reflects the pronunciation.