‘鸭舌帽’ (yāshé mào) literally means ‘duck-tongue hat’, a vivid, traditional Chinese name for the modern baseball cap. The term comes from the shape of the cap’s stiff, forward-projecting brim, which resembles a duck’s flat, broad tongue. Though the imagery is whimsical and zoological, the word is widely understood across China and used in everyday speech and retail contexts—not as a humorous or poetic expression, but as the standard, neutral term for this type of casual headwear.

This word reflects how Chinese often names objects based on visual analogy rather than function or origin. While ‘baseball cap’ is borrowed from English, 鸭舌帽 predates widespread exposure to American baseball and remains the dominant native term—even among young people wearing Western-style sportswear. It’s commonly used when describing clothing, shopping, fashion, or personal appearance, and appears frequently in advertisements, online marketplaces, and casual conversation.