‘短袜’ (duǎn wà) literally means ‘short sock’ — 短 (duǎn) means ‘short’ and 袜 (wà) means ‘sock’. It specifically refers to ankle-length socks that end just above or at the ankle, commonly worn with casual shoes, sneakers, or dress shoes for comfort and style. Unlike longer socks such as 中筒袜 (mid-calf socks) or 长筒袜 (thigh-highs), 短袜 are lightweight, breathable, and widely used in warm weather or sporty outfits.

This term is neutral in register and appears frequently in everyday speech, shopping contexts, and clothing descriptions. It’s often modified by color, material, or quantity (e.g., 白色短袜 ‘white ankle socks’, 三双短袜 ‘three pairs of ankle socks’). While 袜子 (wàzi) is the general word for ‘sock’, 短袜 precisely specifies length, making it useful when distinguishing sock styles in fashion or retail settings.