If you’re using a CNFans Spreadsheet to track purchases, you’re already ahead of most buyers. But a spreadsheet only becomes powerful when it prevents repeat mistakes—especially sizing mistakes. The number one reason people end up with “perfect quality, unwearable fit” isn’t the item itself; it’s a misunderstanding of Chinese size charts.

This article is about documenting your CNFans Spreadsheet purchases with a sizing-first mindset. Instead of just recording price, store, and link, you’ll build a sizing record that helps you read charts accurately, compare items across sellers, and predict fit before you order.

Why Chinese Size Charts Trip Buyers Up

Chinese size charts often look familiar—S, M, L, XL—but the measurements behind them can differ dramatically from what you expect. Two “L” shirts can be two different garments. To make it trickier, charts may list garment measurements (the item laid flat) rather than body measurements (your actual body). If you’re not sure which you’re looking at, you can be “correct” and still end up wrong.

Common causes of sizing errors

• Assuming letter sizes are universal (they aren’t).
• Not noticing units (cm vs inches; sometimes mixed).
• Misreading key terms like 肩宽 (shoulder width) or 袖长 (sleeve length).
• Confusing garment width (chest across) with circumference (full chest).
• Ignoring tolerance (manual measurement error, often ±1–3 cm).

Set Up Your Spreadsheet for Size-Chart Accuracy

Most CNFans Spreadsheets have the basics: item name, store, link, price, and notes. Add a sizing section that makes chart reading repeatable and comparable.

Recommended sizing columns to add

• Chart Unit (cm / inch / unknown)
• Chart Type (garment / body / unclear)
• Target Fit (slim / regular / oversized)
• Your Reference Item (brand/model you own that fits well)
• Ref Measurements (cm) (shoulder, chest, length, sleeve, waist, inseam, rise)
• Chosen Size (S/M/L or numeric)
• Chart Measurements for Chosen Size (copy key numbers)
• Delta vs Reference (e.g., chest +4 cm, length +2 cm)
• QC Measured (if available) (what the warehouse photo shows)
• Result After Wearing (tight shoulders, perfect length, etc.)

This turns your spreadsheet into a sizing library. After a few purchases, you’ll stop guessing and start predicting.

How to Read Chinese Size Charts: Step-by-Step

1) Confirm the units (厘米 vs 英寸)

Most charts are in centimeters (cm). Look for “cm” or the Chinese word “厘米”. If a chart uses inches, it may say “inch” or “英寸”. Document the unit in your spreadsheet because it affects everything else.

2) Identify whether the chart is garment or body measurement

If the chart lists numbers that seem too large or too small, you may be interpreting the wrong type. Many listings use garment measurements taken flat on a table. For example, “胸围 110 cm” might be full chest circumference, or it might be written as a garment measurement that needs context. When it’s unclear, mark Chart Type: unclear and rely more heavily on a reference item plus QC checks.

3) Translate the key measurement terms you’ll see most often

• 肩宽 = shoulder width
• 胸围 = chest (often circumference, but sometimes sellers use it loosely)
• 衣长 = garment length
• 袖长 = sleeve length
• 腰围 = waist
• 臀围 = hips/seat
• 裤长 = pants length (outseam)
• 内长 or 内缝 = inseam
• 裆 = rise/crotch depth

Add a “Terms Confirmed” note if a listing uses unusual labels. Sellers sometimes replace standard terms with brand-specific ones.

4) Understand “width vs circumference” before comparing

Some charts show chest as a flat lay width (across the front), while others show full circumference. If you measure your own shirt laid flat, you’re measuring width. To compare with circumference, you’d typically multiply by 2. If you don’t know which the seller means, use a sanity check: a flat chest width of 55 cm (110 cm circumference) is common for an oversized L/XL tee. A circumference of 55 cm would be extremely small.

5) Account for tolerance (误差) and fabric behavior

Look for “误差 1-3cm” (measurement error 1–3 cm). That means two items in the same size can differ slightly. Fabric also changes fit: heavy cotton holds shape, knits stretch, and some synthetics drape longer. In your spreadsheet, keep a short “Material/Stretch” note because it explains why the same measurements can wear differently.

Use a “Reference Item” Instead of Your Body for Best Results

Measuring your body can work, but it often leads to errors because charts frequently describe the garment. A better method: choose one item you already own that fits perfectly (a tee, hoodie, jeans), measure it, and compare.

What to measure on your reference garment

• Shoulder: seam to seam
• Chest width: pit to pit
• Length: top of shoulder to hem
• Sleeve: shoulder seam to cuff

Then, in the spreadsheet, calculate a simple delta: “Chosen size chest +4 cm vs reference.” Over time, you’ll learn your sweet spot: maybe you like tees at +2 to +6 cm chest and +0 to +3 cm length.

QC Photos: Your Final Checkpoint (and a Spreadsheet Goldmine)

When QC photos are available, treat them as part of your documentation. If the warehouse measures the garment (or you request a measurement), paste those numbers into “QC Measured.” This is how you catch chart inaccuracies and seller inconsistencies.

What to log from QC

• Measured chest width and length (most useful)
• Any visible size tag
• Notes like “shorter than chart by 2 cm”

Even one QC-confirmed entry can guide your next purchase from the same seller or the same item line.

A Simple Documentation Template You Can Reuse

For each CNFans purchase, add a short note block inside your spreadsheet cell or a linked note:

• Chart says: XL = 肩宽 48 / 胸围 112 / 衣长 74 (cm)
• My reference tee: shoulder 46 / chest width 54 (108 circ) / length 72
• Decision: XL for slightly oversized (+2 shoulder, +4 chest, +2 length)
• QC result: chest width measured 56 (good), length 73 (good)
• Wear feedback: shoulders perfect, length ideal, sleeves slightly long

This turns random buys into structured data. Your future self will thank you every time you avoid a sizing gamble.

Final Thoughts: Make Sizing the “Main Event” in Your CNFans Spreadsheet

Links die, stores disappear, and prices change—but fit is what decides whether you actually wear what you buy. If you document Chinese size charts carefully, your CNFans Spreadsheet becomes more than a purchase log; it becomes a personal sizing system. Start with units and terminology, compare against a reference garment, and close the loop with QC and wear feedback. After a handful of entries, you’ll be able to choose sizes with confidence instead of hope.