三陪小姐

sānpéi xiǎojie

noun

Measure Word

一个三陪小姐 gè

Meanings

1 female bar/nightclub escort
2 hostess (whose work involves drinking, dancing and sexual services)

Characters

older sister / Miss

Examples

HSK 7-9

警方查处了一家雇佣三陪小姐的夜总会。

Jǐngfāng cháchǔ le yījiā gùyōng sānpéi xiǎojie de yèzǒnghuì.

Police shut down a nightclub that employed escort hostesses.

HSK 7-9

这部电影讲述了一个三陪小姐想改变命运的故事。

Zhèbù diànyǐng jiǎngshù le yīgè sānpéi xiǎojie xiǎng gǎibiàn mìngyùn de gùshi.

The film tells the story of a bar hostess trying to change her fate.

Tips

culture

三陪 literally means 'three accompaniments' - the three traditionally being 陪酒 (drinking with the customer), 陪舞 (dancing) and 陪唱 (karaoke), with 陪睡 (sleeping with) often implied as a fourth. The term emerged in 1990s Chinese nightlife and remains tied to the gray-market hostess economy.

register

Sensitive / borderline taboo. Used freely in news reporting and crime stories but you would not refer to a specific woman this way to her face. Compare neutral 服务员 / 公关 vs. judgmental 三陪小姐.

Stroke Order

三 sān

陪 péi

小 xiǎo

姐 jiě