‘冬装’ (dōng zhuāng) literally combines 冬 (dōng), meaning ‘winter’, and 装 (zhuāng), meaning ‘clothing’ or ‘attire’. Together, it refers specifically to garments designed for cold weather — such as heavy coats, down jackets, thermal underwear, wool sweaters, and insulated pants. Unlike general terms like 衣服 (yīfu, ‘clothes’), 冬装 emphasizes function: warmth, wind resistance, and layering.

This word is commonly used in shopping contexts (e.g., winter clothing sales), weather-related advice, and seasonal planning. It’s a compound noun with no grammatical inflection — always used attributively or as a subject/object. While it can refer to both men’s and women’s wear, it’s neutral in register and appropriate for formal and informal speech. Note that 冬装 does not include accessories like gloves or scarves unless specified (e.g., 冬装配套). It’s distinct from 季节性服装 (jìjiéxìng fúzhuāng, ‘seasonal clothing’) because it exclusively denotes winter-specific items.