‘裹尸布’ (guǒ shī bù) literally means ‘body-wrapping cloth’ — combining 裹 (to wrap, enfold), 尸 (corpse, dead body), and 布 (cloth, fabric). It refers specifically to a shroud: a length of cloth used to wrap a corpse before burial or cremation. Unlike ordinary cloth, this term carries solemn, ritual connotations rooted in traditional Chinese funeral customs, where covering the deceased with clean, plain fabric signifies respect and preparation for the afterlife.

The word is formal and somber, typically appearing in literary, historical, or ceremonial contexts — such as classical poetry, obituaries, or discussions of mortuary rites. It is rarely used in casual speech and never for living persons or non-human subjects. While modern funerals in urban China often use coffins or urns instead of shrouds, the term remains culturally resonant, especially in idioms like ‘马革裹尸’ (to die on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide), evoking sacrifice and honor.