At the A1 level, you only need to know that '胖' (pàng) means fat. You might not use '肥胖' (féipàng) yet, but you might see it in simple health posters. Think of it as the 'big word' for being fat. If you see '肥' (féi) and '胖' (pàng) together, it's talking about a serious weight issue. You can remember that '胖' has the 'meat' radical on the left, which looks like a moon (月). Many words related to the body have this radical. At this stage, focus on '我胖了' (I've become fat) as a simple sentence.
By A2, you are starting to talk about health and lifestyle. '肥胖' (féipàng) is a useful word when you want to sound a bit more serious about health than just saying '胖'. You might use it to talk about why someone should exercise or eat less junk food. For example, '他不运动,所以很肥胖' (He doesn't exercise, so he is very obese). You should recognize that this word is more formal than '胖'. You might also see it in short texts about doctors or gyms. It is an adjective here, describing a person's state.
At the B1 level, you should be able to use '肥胖' (féipàng) as both a noun and an adjective. You can discuss social issues like '儿童肥胖' (childhood obesity). You should understand that this word is used in news reports and medical contexts. You can use it to explain cause and effect, such as '肥胖会导致很多疾病' (Obesity can lead to many diseases). At this level, you should start to distinguish between '肥胖' (clinical/formal) and '胖' (casual). You might also encounter it in discussions about self-image and health trends in China.
At the B2 level, you should use '肥胖' (féipàng) fluently in academic or professional discussions. You can talk about '肥胖率' (obesity rate) and '肥胖症' (obesity as a disease). You should be able to compare the health systems of different countries and how they handle obesity. You will also see this word used metaphorically in business to describe an organization that is too large and inefficient (though '臃肿' is more common for this). You should be comfortable reading health journals or news articles that use this term extensively.
At the C1 level, you understand the deep nuances of '肥胖' (féipàng) and its related vocabulary. You can discuss the socio-economic factors behind obesity and use the word in complex sentence structures. You are aware of the sensitivity of the word and can navigate conversations about weight with cultural awareness. You might analyze how the definition of '肥胖' has changed in Chinese history—from being a sign of wealth to a modern health concern. You can also use related idioms and formal literary terms to describe physical appearance.
At the C2 level, '肥胖' (féipàng) is just one of many tools in your vocabulary. You can engage in high-level debates about public health policy regarding obesity. You understand the etymological roots of '肥' and '胖' and how they have evolved in various Chinese dialects. You can write professional medical reports or social commentaries using the term perfectly. You are also capable of understanding wordplay or subtle sarcasm involving the word in literature or high-level media.

肥胖 in 30 Seconds

  • 肥胖 (féipàng) is the formal Chinese word for 'obese' or 'obesity'.
  • It is used in medical, academic, and news contexts rather than casual talk.
  • The word functions as both a noun (the condition) and an adjective (describing a person).
  • It is more polite and objective than the potentially offensive single character '肥'.

The term 肥胖 (féipàng) is a formal and clinical way to describe the condition of being overweight or obese in Chinese. While in English we might distinguish between 'fat' and 'obese' based on clinical severity, Chinese uses 肥胖 as both an adjective and a noun to cover the spectrum of significant weight gain that impacts health. It is composed of two characters: 肥 (féi), which historically referred to the fat on animals or fertile soil, and 胖 (pàng), which is the standard modern word for a person being fat.

Medical Context
In hospitals and health reports, you will see 肥胖症 (féipàngzhèng), which specifically means 'obesity' as a diagnosed medical condition. Doctors use this to discuss Body Mass Index (BMI) and metabolic health.

现代社会的饮食习惯导致了严重的肥胖问题。 (Modern society's eating habits have led to serious obesity problems.)

Understanding the nuance of this word is crucial for learners. Unlike the word '胖' (pàng) which can be used casually between friends (though still sensitive), 肥胖 sounds more objective and scientific. You will hear it in news reports about public health, in fitness advertisements, and in discussions about nutrition. It is rarely used as a direct insult because it sounds so clinical, making it the 'safe' word for academic or professional discussions about weight.

Social Register
When talking to a friend about their weight, even 肥胖 might be too harsh. It is usually better to discuss '健康' (health) or '体重' (body weight) directly.

过度肥胖会增加患心脏病的风险。 (Excessive obesity increases the risk of heart disease.)

In terms of grammar, 肥胖 can act as a noun (obesity) or an adjective (obese). When used as an adjective, it often follows an adverb of degree like '非常' (fēicháng - very) or '过度' (guòdù - excessively). It is also common to see it paired with '问题' (wèntí - problem) or '现象' (xiànxiàng - phenomenon) to describe societal trends.

Using 肥胖 correctly requires an understanding of its position in a sentence. Because it is a formal term, it frequently appears in the subject or object position of a sentence when discussing health statistics or biological facts. For example, '肥胖影响健康' (Obesity affects health) uses it as a noun subject. Alternatively, as an adjective, it can describe a person or an animal: '这只猫过于肥胖' (This cat is excessively obese).

为了防止肥胖,他每天坚持跑步。 (To prevent obesity, he insists on running every day.)

Common Structure
[Subject] + [Adverb] + 肥胖. Example: 他的身体非常肥胖 (His body is very obese).

In more complex sentences, 肥胖 is often linked with causes or consequences using words like '导致' (dǎozhì - lead to) or '引起' (yǐnqǐ - cause). You might say, '长期不运动会导致肥胖' (Lack of exercise over a long period will lead to obesity). This sentence structure is very common in educational materials and health brochures. It is also important to note that 肥胖 can be used to describe specific parts of the body in a medical sense, such as '腹部肥胖' (abdominal obesity).

儿童肥胖已成为全球性的健康挑战。 (Childhood obesity has become a global health challenge.)

When writing, remember that 肥胖 is a neutral-to-negative term. It is used to state a fact about health, not to compliment someone. If you are describing someone's physical appearance in a neutral way, '壮' (zhuàng - strong/sturdy) or '丰满' (fēngmǎn - plump/full-figured) are often more polite alternatives depending on the context.

You are most likely to encounter 肥胖 in formal environments. If you are watching a news program on CCTV or reading an article on a health website like 39健康网, the word 肥胖 will appear frequently. It is the standard term used by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Chinese translations. Therefore, any discussion regarding the 'obesity epidemic' will use this specific term.

专家指出,青少年肥胖率正在上升。 (Experts point out that the teenage obesity rate is rising.)

Gyms and Fitness
Personal trainers will use this word when analyzing a client's body composition. They might say '你的体脂率显示你处于肥胖状态' (Your body fat percentage shows you are in a state of obesity).

In daily life, you might hear it in conversations about dieting or lifestyle changes. For example, a mother might worry about her child's health and say, '我担心他太肥胖了,会影响发育' (I'm worried he is too obese and it will affect his development). It is also a key term in advertisements for weight-loss products, which often promise to '解决肥胖烦恼' (solve the troubles of obesity).

医生建议肥胖患者减少糖分的摄入。 (The doctor suggests that obese patients reduce their sugar intake.)

Interestingly, you will also see this word in animal husbandry or agricultural contexts, referring to the 'fatness' of livestock. However, for most learners, the human health context is the most relevant. In movies or TV dramas, doctors or concerned family members are the characters most likely to use this specific word, whereas friends might use slang or simpler terms.

One of the most common mistakes is using 肥胖 as a casual adjective to describe a friend. While it is medically accurate, it can sound overly cold or clinical, which might be perceived as more hurtful than the simpler '胖' (pàng). It's like calling someone 'clinically obese' instead of just saying they are 'big' or 'fat'. Context matters immensely in Chinese culture regarding weight.

Confusion with 胖 (pàng)
Don't use 肥胖 in casual compliments like '你胖了一点,更好看了' (You've gained a bit of weight, you look better). In this case, 肥胖 would sound like a medical diagnosis and ruin the compliment.

错误用法:他长得很肥胖。 (Incorrect/Awkward: He grew to be very obese - sounds like a scientific report about a specimen.)

Another mistake is confusing the character '肥' (féi) with '胖' (pàng) when used alone. '肥' is often used for meat you eat (like fatty pork - 肥肉) or for clothes that are too loose/wide. If you call a person '肥', it can be quite derogatory, similar to calling someone 'lardy' or 'greasy'. 肥胖, as a compound word, is actually more polite than just '肥' because it is a recognized medical term.

Lastly, learners often forget that 肥胖 can be a noun. They might try to say '肥胖的问题' (the problem of obesity) which is correct, but they might also try to use it as a verb. You cannot '肥胖' someone; it is a state or a condition. You would use '变得肥胖' (become obese) or '导致肥胖' (cause obesity).

Chinese has several words to describe weight, each with its own level of formality and emotional tone. Understanding these will help you choose the right word for the right situation. While 肥胖 is the clinical term, you have several other options.

胖 (pàng)
The most common, everyday word for fat. It can be a simple description or a mild insult depending on the tone. Example: 他最近胖了 (He has gotten fat recently).
丰满 (fēngmǎn)
A polite, complimentary word meaning 'plump' or 'full-figured'. It is often used to describe women in a way that suggests health and beauty. Example: 她的身材很丰满 (Her figure is very full/plump).
臃肿 (yōngzhǒng)
This means 'cumbersome' or 'swollen'. It is used to describe someone who is so fat they move with difficulty, or even a bureaucracy that is too large and slow. Example: 穿得太多显得臃肿 (Wearing too much makes one look bulky/swollen).

比起肥胖,我更喜欢用“微胖”来形容他。 (Compared to obese, I prefer to use 'slightly plump' to describe him.)

For medical or scientific writing, you might also see '超重' (chāozhòng), which literally means 'overweight'. This is slightly less severe than 肥胖. In contrast, if you are looking for a very derogatory term, '肥猪' (féizhū - fat pig) is a common insult, but should obviously be avoided in polite conversation. For children, the term '胖乎乎' (pànghūhū) is an endearing way to say 'chubby'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, being 胖 was often a sign of wealth and high social status because only the rich could afford enough food to become fat.

Pronunciation Guide

UK féi pàng
US féi pàng
Both syllables are stressed equally, but the falling tone on 'pàng' often makes it sound more emphatic.
Rhymes With
胖 (pàng) 棒 (bàng) 唱 (chàng) 放 (fàng) 让 (ràng) 上 (shàng) 浪 (làng) 藏 (zàng)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'fei' as 'fee'. It should be 'fay'.
  • Using the wrong tone for 'pang'. If you use a rising tone, it sounds like 'to accompany' (陪 - péi, though the p is different).
  • Confusing 'pang' with 'bang'. The 'p' is aspirated (puff of air).
  • Pronouncing 'fei' as 'fui'.
  • Not distinguishing between the 'f' and 'p' sounds clearly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are common but the 'meat' radical must be recognized.

Writing 4/5

Writing '胖' and '肥' requires attention to stroke order and proportions.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are straightforward (2nd and 4th).

Listening 2/5

Distinct sounds make it easy to catch in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

身体

Learn Next

减肥 运动 健康 疾病 营养

Advanced

代谢 脂肪组织 胆固醇 心血管 内分泌

Grammar to Know

Adverbs of degree with 肥胖

他‘非常’肥胖。

Using 肥胖 as a subject

‘肥胖’是一种病。

Cause and effect with 导致

不运动‘导致’肥胖。

Attributive 'de'

‘肥胖的’动物。

Resultative complements

他吃‘胖’了。

Examples by Level

1

他不胖。

He is not fat.

Simple negation using 不.

2

这只猫很胖。

This cat is very fat.

Using 很 as a linking adverb.

3

我胖了三斤。

I gained three jin (1.5kg).

胖 can act as a verb meaning 'to gain weight'.

4

你胖吗?

Are you fat?

Simple question with 吗.

5

熊猫很胖。

Pandas are very fat.

Basic descriptive sentence.

6

我的狗不肥。

My dog is not fat.

肥 used casually for animals.

7

他很胖,也很高。

He is very fat and also very tall.

Using 也 to connect two adjectives.

8

我不喜欢胖子。

I don't like fat people.

胖子 is a noun for 'fat person'.

1

肥胖对健康不好。

Obesity is not good for health.

肥胖 used as a noun.

2

他因为太肥胖而生病了。

He got sick because he was too obese.

Using 因为...而... for cause and effect.

3

我们应该预防肥胖。

We should prevent obesity.

预防 (prevent) + noun.

4

医生说他过于肥胖。

The doctor says he is excessively obese.

过于 (excessively) + adjective.

5

肥胖的人需要多运动。

Obese people need to exercise more.

肥胖 as an attributive adjective.

6

什么是肥胖?

What is obesity?

Simple definition question.

7

他的肥胖问题很严重。

His obesity problem is very serious.

肥胖 + 问题 (problem).

8

多吃糖会导致肥胖。

Eating too much sugar leads to obesity.

导致 (leads to) + noun.

1

肥胖已经成为了一个全球性的问题。

Obesity has become a global problem.

成为了 (has become) + noun phrase.

2

过度肥胖会增加心脏病的风险。

Excessive obesity increases the risk of heart disease.

增加...的风险 (increase the risk of).

3

我们需要关注儿童肥胖现象。

We need to pay attention to the phenomenon of childhood obesity.

关注 (pay attention to) + phenomenon.

4

这种药可以治疗肥胖症。

This medicine can treat obesity.

肥胖症 (obesity as a disease).

5

他通过减肥告别了肥胖。

He said goodbye to obesity by losing weight.

通过 (through/by) + method.

6

肥胖不仅影响外貌,还影响健康。

Obesity not only affects appearance but also affects health.

不仅...还... (not only... but also).

7

根据报告,该国的肥胖率在上升。

According to the report, the country's obesity rate is rising.

肥胖率 (obesity rate).

8

他从小就受到肥胖的困扰。

He has been troubled by obesity since he was a child.

受到...的困扰 (be troubled by).

1

政府正在采取措施应对肥胖流行病。

The government is taking measures to deal with the obesity epidemic.

采取措施 (take measures).

2

肥胖与许多慢性病有直接关系。

Obesity has a direct relationship with many chronic diseases.

与...有关系 (have a relationship with).

3

心理压力也是导致肥胖的一个因素。

Psychological stress is also a factor leading to obesity.

导致...的因素 (factor leading to).

4

我们不能歧视肥胖者。

We must not discriminate against obese people.

歧视 (discriminate) + person.

5

肥胖的定义在不同文化中可能有所不同。

The definition of obesity may vary across different cultures.

有所不同 (to be somewhat different).

6

研究表明,睡眠不足会引起肥胖。

Research shows that lack of sleep can cause obesity.

研究表明 (research shows).

7

他的肥胖是由于遗传基因造成的。

His obesity is caused by genetic genes.

由于...造成的 (caused by).

8

快餐文化是肥胖问题的推手。

Fast food culture is a driver of the obesity problem.

推手 (driver/promoter).

1

肥胖症的蔓延对公共卫生系统构成了巨大压力。

The spread of obesity has put huge pressure on the public health system.

对...构成压力 (pose pressure on).

2

社会对肥胖的偏见往往导致患者产生自卑心理。

Social prejudice against obesity often leads patients to develop feelings of inferiority.

产生...心理 (develop a psychological state).

3

我们需要从多维度分析肥胖的成因。

We need to analyze the causes of obesity from multiple dimensions.

从...维度 (from the dimension of).

4

肥胖不仅是个人选择,更是社会环境的产物。

Obesity is not only a personal choice but also a product of the social environment.

是...的产物 (is a product of).

5

该政策旨在降低低收入人群的肥胖率。

The policy aims to reduce the obesity rate among low-income groups.

旨在 (aims to).

6

针对肥胖的干预措施应当具有持续性。

Interventions for obesity should be sustainable.

具有持续性 (possess sustainability).

7

肥胖往往伴随着代谢紊乱。

Obesity is often accompanied by metabolic disorders.

伴随着 (be accompanied by).

8

解决肥胖问题需要跨学科的合作。

Solving the obesity problem requires interdisciplinary cooperation.

跨学科 (interdisciplinary).

1

肥胖在全球范围内的异质性分布揭示了深刻的社会不平等。

The heterogeneous distribution of obesity globally reveals profound social inequalities.

异质性 (heterogeneity).

2

我们应当警惕将肥胖简单地归因于缺乏意志力。

We should be wary of simply attributing obesity to a lack of willpower.

归因于 (attribute to).

3

肥胖症的病理生理机制极为复杂。

The pathophysiological mechanism of obesity is extremely complex.

病理生理机制 (pathophysiological mechanism).

4

文化语境对肥胖的审美认知有着决定性的影响。

Cultural context has a decisive influence on the aesthetic perception of obesity.

审美认知 (aesthetic perception).

5

制糖工业在肥胖流行中扮演了不光彩的角色。

The sugar industry has played an ignoble role in the obesity epidemic.

扮演角色 (play a role).

6

肥胖的污名化现象在职场中依然屡见不鲜。

The stigmatization of obesity is still common in the workplace.

屡见不鲜 (common occurrence).

7

针对肥胖的基因疗法尚处于研发的初级阶段。

Gene therapy for obesity is still in the early stages of research and development.

处于...阶段 (be in a stage).

8

肥胖不仅关乎生物学,更是一个政治经济学议题。

Obesity is not just about biology; it is also a political-economic issue.

关乎 (relate to/about).

Synonyms

超重 臃肿 发福

Antonyms

Common Collocations

过度肥胖
肥胖率
儿童肥胖
肥胖倾向
预防肥胖
导致肥胖
肥胖基因
肥胖患者
腹部肥胖
拒绝肥胖

Common Phrases

肥胖症

— The clinical condition of obesity.

他患有严重的肥胖症。

告别肥胖

— To lose weight and no longer be obese.

让我们一起告别肥胖。

远离肥胖

— To stay away from becoming obese.

健康生活,远离肥胖。

肥胖纹

— Stretch marks caused by weight gain.

他腿上有肥胖纹。

病态肥胖

— Morbid obesity.

病态肥胖需要手术治疗。

家族性肥胖

— Genetic or family-related obesity.

这是典型的家族性肥胖。

中年肥胖

— Weight gain occurring in middle age.

如何应对中年肥胖?

肥胖门诊

— An obesity clinic in a hospital.

他在肥胖门诊挂了号。

单纯性肥胖

— Simple obesity (not caused by other diseases).

大多数人属于单纯性肥胖。

肥胖指数

— Obesity index (like BMI).

你的肥胖指数超标了。

Often Confused With

肥胖 vs 肥沃

肥沃 means fertile (for soil), while 肥胖 is for bodies.

肥胖 vs 庞大

庞大 means huge or enormous in size/scale, not necessarily fat.

肥胖 vs 富有

In ancient times, being fat meant being wealthy, but these words are not interchangeable today.

Idioms & Expressions

"心宽体胖"

— Happy and carefree, thus becoming fat.

他退休后心宽体胖。

Neutral/Positive
"肥头大耳"

— Having a fat head and big ears; often describes a greedy or wealthy look.

那个肥头大耳的商人很贪婪。

Derogatory
"肠肥脑满"

— Fat belly and full brain; describes someone who lives in luxury but is empty-headed.

那些肠肥脑满的官僚。

Derogatory
"燕瘦环肥"

— Referring to different types of beauty (slim like Zhao Feiyan, plump like Yang Guifei).

这群女孩真是燕瘦环肥,各有千秋。

Literary
"肥马轻裘"

— Fat horses and light furs; describing a very wealthy, luxurious lifestyle.

他过着肥马轻裘的生活。

Literary
"挑肥拣瘦"

— To pick the fat and choose the lean; to be very picky about things.

找工作不能挑肥拣瘦。

Common
"越减越肥"

— The more one diets, the fatter one gets (yo-yo dieting).

方法不对,只会越减越肥。

Colloquial
"肥水不流外人田"

— Keep the benefits within the family/group.

这笔生意我们自己做,肥水不流外人田。

Common
"食言而肥"

— To go back on one's word (literally: eat one's words and get fat).

做生意最忌讳食言而肥。

Literary
"肥而不腻"

— Fatty but not greasy (usually about food like pork).

这块红烧肉肥而不腻。

Common

Easily Confused

肥胖 vs

Both mean fat.

肥 is usually for animals, meat, or soil. Using it for people is often rude.

这块肉太肥了。

肥胖 vs

Both mean fat.

胖 is the standard casual word for people. 肥胖 is the clinical/formal word.

小王长胖了。

肥胖 vs

Both describe large bodies.

壮 means strong/muscular; 肥胖 means fatty/obese.

他虽然胖,但是很壮。

肥胖 vs 丰满

Both mean not thin.

丰满 is a positive euphemism (plump/curvy); 肥胖 is a neutral medical term.

她身材丰满。

肥胖 vs 臃肿

Both mean bulky.

臃肿 emphasizes looking clumsy or swollen, often due to clothing.

冬天穿羽绒服很臃肿。

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + 很 + 肥胖

他的猫很肥胖。

B1

Subject + 导致 + 肥胖

吃甜食会导致肥胖。

B1

肥胖 + 对...不好

肥胖对心脏不好。

B2

由于...,Subject 变得肥胖

由于缺乏运动,他变得肥胖。

B2

肥胖率 + 正在 + Verb

肥胖率正在上升。

C1

把...归因于肥胖

他把健康问题归因于肥胖。

C1

针对肥胖的 + Noun

针对肥胖的治疗方案。

C2

肥胖与...息息相关

肥胖与生活方式息息相关。

Word Family

Nouns

肥肉 (fatty meat)
胖子 (fat person)
肥胖症 (obesity)

Verbs

减肥 (to lose weight)
增肥 (to gain weight/fatten up)

Adjectives

肥沃 (fertile - for soil)
肥大 (loose/large - for clothes)
虚胖 (puffy/bloated)

Related

体重 (weight)
脂肪 (fat/lipid)
热量 (calories)
身材 (figure)
健康 (health)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media and health contexts; moderate in daily speech.

Common Mistakes
  • Using '肥' to compliment someone's health. Using '胖' or '发福'.

    Calling a person '肥' is like calling them 'lardy'—it's very rude.

  • Saying '我肥胖了' for a small weight gain. Saying '我胖了'.

    肥胖 implies a serious or clinical level of fatness, not just a few pounds.

  • Using 肥胖 for loose clothes. Using 肥 or 肥大.

    肥胖 only refers to body fat, not the size of objects.

  • Confusing 肥胖 with 胖子. Using 肥胖 as the condition and 胖子 as the person.

    胖子 is a noun for a person; 肥胖 is the state or adjective.

  • Using 肥胖 to describe a large building. Using 巨大 or 庞大.

    肥胖 is biological only.

Tips

Use in Medical Contexts

Always use 肥胖 when translating medical documents or talking to a doctor about weight.

Be Careful with Friends

Even if a friend is medically obese, using the word 肥胖 to their face might sound too harsh. Use '胖' instead.

Stroke Order

Pay attention to the '月' radical on the left side of both characters. It's the key to many body-related words.

Related Words

Learn '减肥' (lose weight) alongside '肥胖' as they are almost always used together in conversation.

Tone Accuracy

The 4th tone on 'pàng' is very important to distinguish it from other similar-sounding words.

Euphemisms

If you want to be polite, use '丰满' (fēngmǎn) for women or '壮' (zhuàng) for men instead of 肥胖.

Identify the Topic

If you hear 'féi' or 'pàng', the topic is almost certainly about physical size or health.

Noun vs Adjective

Remember that 肥胖 doesn't need '的' when used as a noun, but often uses it as an adjective.

Root Meaning

Knowing that '肥' means animal fat helps you understand why 肥胖 is a very 'physical' word.

News Reading

Read health articles in Chinese to see how 肥胖 is used in professional reporting.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a person eating a 'FEI' (fay) amount of food until they go 'PANG' (like a balloon popping).

Visual Association

Look at the '月' radical in both characters. It looks like a moon but represents 'meat' (肉). Two pieces of meat together make someone '肥胖'.

Word Web

健康 脂肪 减肥 运动 饮食 医生 体重 卡路里

Challenge

Try to use '肥胖' in a sentence about a cat, a doctor, and a fast-food restaurant.

Word Origin

The character 肥 consists of ⺼ (meat/flesh) and 巴 (originally representing a snake or a person clinging, here providing sound). The character 胖 consists of ⺼ (meat/flesh) and 半 (half, providing sound). Both trace back to the idea of flesh on the body.

Original meaning: 肥 originally referred to the fat on animals or the richness of soil. 胖 originally meant a side of meat offered in sacrifice.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Avoid using 肥胖 or 胖 to describe strangers or superiors. It is best used in medical or general societal contexts.

Westerners often find direct comments about weight offensive, whereas in China, '你胖了' (You've gotten fat) can be a common (though increasingly sensitive) observation.

Yang Guifei (the famous plump beauty of the Tang Dynasty) The 'Little Emperor' phenomenon (spoiled, obese only-children) Kung Fu Panda (a positive portrayal of being 胖)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Doctor

  • 我有肥胖问题吗?
  • 如何治疗肥胖?
  • 肥胖会导致高血压吗?
  • 肥胖症严重吗?

At the Gym

  • 我想减掉肥胖的肚子。
  • 这个运动对肥胖有用吗?
  • 我不希望变得肥胖。
  • 体脂率和肥胖的关系。

Watching News

  • 全球肥胖率
  • 儿童肥胖危机
  • 政府打击肥胖
  • 肥胖税

With Friends

  • 我最近有点肥胖了。
  • 你一点也不肥胖。
  • 别担心肥胖问题。
  • 我们去跑步预防肥胖吧。

Reading a Menu

  • 低脂防止肥胖
  • 高热量导致肥胖
  • 健康饮食拒绝肥胖
  • 肥胖者的食谱

Conversation Starters

"你觉得现在的儿童肥胖问题严重吗?"

"在你的国家,肥胖率高吗?"

"为了预防肥胖,你平时会做什么运动?"

"你认为基因和饮食哪个对肥胖影响更大?"

"你觉得政府应该征收‘肥胖税’(糖税)吗?"

Journal Prompts

描述一下你对现代社会肥胖现象的看法。

如果你是一名医生,你会如何建议一位肥胖患者?

写一写你为了保持健康、远离肥胖所做的努力。

讨论一下媒体是如何影响我们对肥胖的审美的。

分析一下快餐文化与肥胖之间的关系。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In a medical context, no. In a casual conversation about a friend, it sounds a bit cold and clinical, which can be perceived as slightly rude. It's better to use '胖' or euphemisms.

Yes, you can use it for pets in a medical context (e.g., '你的猫肥胖了'), but '胖' or '肥' is more common for animals.

肥胖 is the general state of being obese. 肥胖症 is the specific medical disease/diagnosis of obesity.

You say '儿童肥胖' (értóng féipàng).

It is both. As a noun: '肥胖是一种风险'. As an adjective: '他很肥胖'.

The clinical opposite is '消瘦' (emaciated) or simply '瘦' (thin).

You say '肥胖率' (féipàng lǜ).

No, it is strictly for biological organisms like humans and animals.

Not when referring to meat (肥肉) or soil (肥沃), but when used alone for people, it usually is.

The 'meat' radical (⺼), which is a variant of '肉'.

Test Yourself 30 questions

writing

Write a sentence using '肥胖' and '健康'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing

Translate: 'Childhood obesity is a problem.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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speaking

Pronounce '肥胖' with correct tones.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen to a news clip about '肥胖率'. What is the topic?

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writing

Explain why obesity is a problem in Chinese (1 sentence).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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/ 30 correct

Perfect score!

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