皮鞋 (pí xié) literally means 'skin shoe' — 皮 (pí) means 'leather' or 'hide', and 鞋 (xié) means 'shoe'. Together, they refer specifically to shoes made from animal leather, most commonly cowhide, though sometimes from sheepskin or other leathers. Unlike synthetic or fabric footwear, 皮鞋 implies durability, formality, and traditional craftsmanship.

This term is widely used in everyday speech and writing to distinguish leather shoes from casual alternatives like 布鞋 (bù xié, cloth shoes) or 运动鞋 (yùndòng xié, sneakers). It often appears in contexts involving work attire, formal events, or shopping — for example, when describing business dress codes or comparing shoe materials. While 皮 can refer to any skin or peel (e.g., fruit peel), in 皮鞋 it exclusively denotes tanned animal hide, reflecting its origin in animal-based material sourcing.