At the A1 level, you only need to know that 肌肉 (jī ròu) means 'muscle.' You might use it in very simple sentences like '我有肌肉' (I have muscles) or '他的肌肉很大' (His muscles are big). At this stage, the most important thing is distinguishing it from 鸡肉 (chicken meat) by looking at the characters. You might encounter it when learning body parts like 手 (hand), 脚 (foot), and 肉 (meat/flesh). It's a useful word if you enjoy sports or want to describe people's appearances simply.
At the A2 level, you should be able to use 肌肉 with common verbs related to daily life and health. You can say '我每天锻炼肌肉' (I exercise my muscles every day) or '我的肌肉疼' (My muscles hurt). You should also learn the measure word '块' (kuài) to count muscles. You are beginning to understand that 肌肉 is not just a body part but something that can be changed through actions like 运动 (exercise) or 休息 (rest). You might also see it in simple health tips or gym advertisements.
At the B1 level, you can use 肌肉 in more complex descriptions of fitness and health. You should know adjectives like 发达 (developed) and 结实 (firm). You can explain why your muscles are sore, perhaps using the word 酸痛 (sore). You are also ready to learn short forms for specific muscles like 腹肌 (abs) and 胸肌 (pecs). Your ability to discuss health routines in Chinese is expanding, and 肌肉 becomes a key vocabulary item for describing physical progress and body types in social conversations.
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 肌肉 in technical or semi-formal contexts. This includes understanding compound terms like 肌肉记忆 (muscle memory) and 肌肉萎缩 (muscle atrophy). You can read articles about health and sports science that use 肌肉 to explain physiological processes. You also understand the metaphorical use of 'flexing muscles' (展示肌肉) in political or competitive contexts. You can distinguish between 肌肉 (muscle) and related terms like 韧带 (ligament) or 神经 (nerve) in a basic medical discussion.
At the C1 level, you have a nuanced understanding of 肌肉 and its role in various registers. You can discuss the aesthetics of 肌肉 in art and media, use medical terms like 骨骼肌 (skeletal muscle) and 平滑肌 (smooth muscle) accurately, and understand literary or advanced idiomatic expressions involving the word. You can articulate complex ideas about the relationship between 肌肉, nutrition, and aging. Your vocabulary includes specialized terms for muscle-related diseases and advanced training techniques used in professional athletics.
At the C2 level, your mastery of 肌肉 is near-native. You can engage in deep scientific debates about muscular physiology, biomechanics, and the evolution of muscle tissue. You understand the historical and cultural shifts in the perception of 肌肉 in Chinese society, from traditional views on strength to modern bodybuilding. You can use 肌肉 in high-level political analysis or philosophical discussions about the body. No nuance of the word, whether literal, metaphorical, or scientific, is beyond your grasp.

肌肉 em 30 segundos

  • 肌肉 (jī ròu) is the standard Chinese noun for muscle, used in fitness, medical, and everyday contexts to describe body tissue and physical strength.
  • It is a homophone with 鸡肉 (chicken meat), so learners must distinguish them through character recognition (肌 vs 鸡) and situational context.
  • Commonly paired with the measure word 块 (kuài) and verbs like 锻炼 (exercise), 增加 (increase), and 放松 (relax).
  • Metaphorically, it can refer to a display of power or strength, similar to the English idiom 'flexing one's muscles' (展示肌肉).

The term 肌肉 (jī ròu) is the primary Chinese word for 'muscle.' It is composed of two characters: 肌 (jī), which specifically refers to muscle or flesh, and 肉 (ròu), which means meat or flesh in a general sense. Together, they form the biological and colloquial term for the fibrous tissue in the body that contracts to produce movement. In modern Chinese society, this word has gained significant traction due to the rising popularity of fitness culture, bodybuilding, and health consciousness. When you walk into any gym in Beijing or Shanghai, you will hear people discussing how to build their 肌肉 or complaining about their 肌肉 being sore after a heavy workout. It is a neutral, scientific, and everyday term all at once.

Anatomy and Biology
In a medical or biological context, 肌肉 refers to the three types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Doctors use this term when discussing injuries like strains or conditions like atrophy.

经常锻炼可以增加肌肉质量。(Regular exercise can increase muscle mass.)

Beyond the physical tissue, 肌肉 is often used to describe someone's physique. If you say someone has 肌肉, you are usually implying they are fit, toned, or muscular. It is a compliment in the context of fitness. However, it can also be used metaphorically in political or diplomatic contexts, such as 'flexing muscles' (展示肌肉), which refers to a show of strength or military power. This metaphorical use is identical to the English idiom, making it quite intuitive for English speakers to grasp. Understanding the nuances of 肌肉 requires looking at how it interacts with verbs like 'strengthen' (增强), 'relax' (放松), and 'develop' (发达).

Fitness Culture
The phrase '肌肉男' (jī ròu nán) is a common slang term for a 'muscle man' or a 'buff guy.' It is frequently used on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo.

他的肌肉非常发达。(His muscles are very well-developed.)

In summary, 肌肉 is an essential noun for anyone describing the human body, health routines, or even political posturing. Its usage is straightforward, but its cultural weight has grown as China's 'fitness fever' continues to expand. Whether you are at a doctor's office or a CrossFit box, 肌肉 is the word you need to know.

Using 肌肉 (jī ròu) correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and the specific verbs and adjectives that commonly accompany it. In Chinese, nouns don't change form for pluralization, so 肌肉 can mean 'muscle' or 'muscles' depending on the context. To specify a single muscle, you would use the measure word 块 (kuài), which is also used for pieces of bread or stones. For example, 'one muscle' is '一块肌肉' (yī kuài jī ròu).

Common Verb Pairings
Verbs like 锻炼 (duànliàn - to exercise), 放松 (fàngsōng - to relax), and 拉伤 (lāshāng - to strain) are the most frequent companions to 肌肉.

跑步后,你需要放松肌肉。(After running, you need to relax your muscles.)

When describing the state of one's muscles, adjectives such as 发达 (fādá - developed), 结实 (jiēshi - solid/firm), and 酸痛 (suāntòng - sore/aching) are essential. If you want to say someone is 'ripped' or 'muscular,' you might say their 肌肉很发达. If you are experiencing DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) after a gym session, you would tell your friend, '我的肌肉很酸痛' (Wǒ de jī ròu hěn suāntòng).

The 'Show of Strength' Pattern
The phrase '展示肌肉' (zhǎnshì jī ròu) is used both literally (bodybuilding) and figuratively (military/economic power).

那个国家在边境展示肌肉。(That country is flexing its muscles at the border.)

In more advanced sentences, 肌肉 can be part of compound terms like 肌肉记忆 (jī ròu jì yì - muscle memory). This is used exactly like the English equivalent to describe a task that has become second nature through repetition, such as typing or playing an instrument. Mastering 肌肉 in sentences means moving from simple biological descriptions to these nuanced, idiomatic expressions.

The word 肌肉 (jī ròu) is ubiquitous in several specific environments in China. The most common place is the 健身房 (jiànshēnfáng - gym). As fitness becomes a middle-class status symbol, conversations about 肌肉增长 (muscle growth) and 肌肉比例 (muscle percentage) are standard. Personal trainers will constantly yell instructions like '感受你的肌肉收缩' (Feel your muscle contraction) or '不要用惯性,要用肌肉' (Don't use momentum, use your muscles).

Medical and Therapeutic Settings
At a massage parlor (按摩店) or a hospital's physical therapy department, you'll hear '肌肉紧张' (muscle tension) or '肌肉劳损' (muscle strain).

你的背部肌肉太紧张了,需要按摩。(Your back muscles are too tense; you need a massage.)

Another major arena is sports broadcasting. Commentators often praise athletes for their 肌肉力量 (muscle power) or explosive strength. During the Olympics, Chinese media often analyzes the 肌肉线条 (muscle lines/definition) of swimmers and sprinters. Furthermore, in the world of beauty and fashion, there is a constant discussion about '瘦肌肉' (lean muscle) versus '大块肌肉' (bulky muscle), reflecting varying aesthetic preferences across different demographics.

Daily Social Media
Influencers often post '肌肉照' (muscle photos/thirst traps) to show off their progress, accompanied by hashtags like #健身 (fitness) or #肌肉 (muscle).

他在朋友圈发了一张肌肉照。(He posted a muscle photo on his Moments.)

Lastly, in educational settings, students learn about 肌肉 in biology class (生物课). They study the difference between voluntary and involuntary muscles. Therefore, from the gym floor to the classroom and the doctor's office, 肌肉 is a high-frequency word that bridges the gap between science and lifestyle.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers learning Chinese is the confusion between 肌肉 (jī ròu - muscle) and 鸡肉 (jī ròu - chicken meat). While the Pinyin is identical (jī ròu), the characters are different: 肌 (muscle) vs. 鸡 (chicken). In spoken Chinese, the tone for 'jī' is the first tone (high level) for both, so the words are true homophones. This leads to hilarious but embarrassing mistakes where a student might say 'I want to eat your muscles' instead of 'I want to eat your chicken' or vice versa. Context is the only way to distinguish them in speech.

The Measure Word Error
Students often use the general measure word '个' (ge) instead of '块' (kuài). While '一个肌肉' might be understood, '一块肌肉' is the correct and natural way to count muscles.

错误: 我有六个腹部肌肉。 (Wrong: I have six abdominal muscles.)
正确: 我有六块腹肌。(Correct: I have six-pack abs.)

Another mistake involves the word 'meat' (肉). In English, 'muscle' and 'meat' are distinct concepts. In Chinese, 肌肉 contains the word for meat (肉). Learners sometimes think 肌肉 can be used to describe the meat they buy at the butcher. However, in a culinary context, you specify the animal (猪肉 - pork, 牛肉 - beef). You would never ask for 500 grams of 肌肉 unless you were in a very strange biological supply store.

Overusing '肌肉' for 'Strength'
Sometimes learners use 肌肉 when they mean 'strength' (力量 - lìliàng). While muscles provide strength, they are not the same word. You don't 'have a lot of muscle' (有很多肌肉) to mean you are strong; you would say you have 'great strength' (很有力量).

他很有力量,虽然他没有明显的肌肉。(He is very strong, even though he doesn't have obvious muscles.)

Finally, watch out for the word '筋' (jīn). In colloquial Chinese, '筋' can refer to tendons, ligaments, or even muscles in certain phrases (like '筋疲力尽' - exhausted). Don't confuse the anatomical precision of 肌肉 with the more flexible, traditional term 筋.

While 肌肉 (jī ròu) is the standard term, several other words are related or can be used as alternatives depending on the context. Understanding these differences will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.

肌肉 vs. 筋 (jīn)
肌肉 is the scientific term for muscle tissue. 筋 is a more traditional, colloquial term that can refer to tendons, veins, or the 'sinew' of the body. In martial arts or TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), 筋 is often more important than 肌肉.
肌肉 vs. 力量 (lìliàng)
肌肉 is the physical structure; 力量 is the capacity or power produced by that structure. You can have 力量 without having big 肌肉 (like a rock climber), but building 肌肉 usually leads to more 力量.

对比: 他肌肉很大,但力量一般。(Comparison: His muscles are big, but his strength is average.)

Another set of words involves specific types of muscles. For example, 腹肌 (fùjī) is the short form for 'abdominal muscles' (abs). In casual conversation, Chinese people almost always use the 'Character + 肌' pattern for specific body parts: 胸肌 (xiōngjī - chest muscles/pecs), 背肌 (bèijī - back muscles), 二头肌 (èrtóujī - biceps). Using the full 肌肉 in these cases sounds a bit overly formal or clinical.

肌肉 vs. 体格 (tǐgé)
体格 refers to one's general build or physique. A 'strong physique' is '体格强壮' (tǐgé qiángzhuàng). This is more formal and holistic than just talking about individual 肌肉.

Finally, consider the word '肉' (ròu) on its own. While it means meat, in the context of a body, '多肉' (duō ròu) usually means someone is 'fleshy' or slightly overweight, whereas '肌肉' implies the firmness of a trained body. Choosing the right word depends on whether you are emphasizing health, appearance, or scientific function.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The character 肌 (jī) contains the radical 月 (yuè), which in this context is actually a simplified version of 肉 (meat), known as the 'meat radical.' So, the word for muscle is technically 'meat-meat'!

Guia de pronúncia

UK /dʒiː rəʊ/
US /dʒi rəʊ/
The stress is balanced, but the fourth tone on 'ròu' often feels more forceful.
Rima com
鸡肉 (jī ròu) 机构 (jī gòu - partial) 积垢 (jī gòu - partial) 肌肉 (jī ròu) 机油 (jī yóu - partial) 稀肉 (xī ròu) 低肉 (dī ròu) 西肉 (xī ròu)
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing 'jī' as 'qī' (aspirated).
  • Confusing the first tone of 'jī' with the second or third tone.
  • Pronouncing 'ròu' like the English 'row' (should be more like 'row' with a falling 'zh/r' sound).
  • Mixing up 'jī ròu' (muscle) with 'jī ròu' (chicken) in writing.
  • Failing to drop the tone sharply on 'ròu'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 2/5

The characters are somewhat complex but very common in health contexts.

Escrita 3/5

Writing '肌' and '肉' requires attention to stroke order and radicals.

Expressão oral 4/5

The homophone '鸡肉' makes speaking and listening tricky for beginners.

Audição 4/5

Must rely on context to distinguish from 'chicken meat'.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

肉 (meat) 身体 (body) 大 (big) 疼 (pain) 人 (person)

Aprenda a seguir

锻炼 (exercise) 健身房 (gym) 酸痛 (sore) 结实 (firm) 骨头 (bone)

Avançado

萎缩 (atrophy) 痉挛 (cramp) 纤维 (fiber) 新陈代谢 (metabolism) 韧带 (ligament)

Gramática essencial

Measure Word '块' (kuài)

他有八块腹肌。(He has eight-pack abs.)

Adjective reduplication for emphasis

他的肌肉结结实实的。(His muscles are very, very firm.)

The '让' causative structure

运动让我的肌肉更强壮。(Exercise makes my muscles stronger.)

The '对...有好处' structure

拉伸对肌肉有好处。(Stretching is good for muscles.)

Directional complements with verbs

他的肌肉练出来了。(His muscles have been developed through training.)

Exemplos por nível

1

他有肌肉。

He has muscles.

Subject + Verb + Noun

2

我的肌肉不疼。

My muscles don't hurt.

Negative '不' before the adjective '疼'.

3

这是肌肉吗?

Is this a muscle?

Question particle '吗' at the end.

4

他的肌肉很大。

His muscles are very big.

Adverb '很' is usually required before adjectives.

5

肌肉和骨头。

Muscles and bones.

Simple conjunction '和'.

6

我没有肌肉。

I don't have muscles.

Negative '没有' for possession.

7

那是他的肌肉。

That is his muscle.

Possessive particle '的'.

8

肌肉很硬。

The muscle is very hard.

Adjective '硬' (hard).

1

我每天锻炼肌肉。

I exercise my muscles every day.

Time adverb '每天' before the verb.

2

跑步可以增加肌肉。

Running can increase muscle.

Auxiliary verb '可以' (can).

3

他有一块大肌肉。

He has one big muscle.

Measure word '块' for muscles.

4

你的肌肉累吗?

Are your muscles tired?

Using '累' (tired) for muscles.

5

我不喜欢太大的肌肉。

I don't like muscles that are too big.

'太...了' structure for 'too...'.

6

医生检查了我的肌肉。

The doctor checked my muscles.

Completed action marker '了'.

7

你要放松你的肌肉。

You need to relax your muscles.

Verb '放松' (relax).

8

这里的肌肉很酸。

The muscles here are very sore.

'酸' (sour) is used for muscle soreness.

1

他的腹部肌肉非常明显。

His abdominal muscles are very visible.

Adjective '明显' (obvious/visible).

2

长时间坐着会让肌肉僵硬。

Sitting for a long time will make muscles stiff.

Causative verb '让' (make/let).

3

为了练肌肉,他吃很多鸡蛋。

To build muscle, he eats many eggs.

'为了' (in order to) starts the purpose clause.

4

这种运动对肌肉有好处。

This kind of exercise is good for the muscles.

'对...有好处' (be good for...).

5

我的腿部肌肉拉伤了。

I strained my leg muscle.

Resultative complement '伤' (injured).

6

他看起来很有肌肉感。

He looks very muscular.

Suffix '感' (sense/feel).

7

你需要加强背部肌肉的训练。

You need to strengthen the training of your back muscles.

Noun phrase '...的训练'.

8

肌肉酸痛通常在第二天最严重。

Muscle soreness is usually worst on the second day.

Adverb '通常' (usually).

1

肌肉记忆可以帮助你更快地学会打字。

Muscle memory can help you learn to type faster.

Abstract noun '肌肉记忆'.

2

这种药物可能会导致肌肉萎缩。

This medication might cause muscle atrophy.

Verb '导致' (lead to/cause).

3

运动员必须保持良好的肌肉状态。

Athletes must maintain a good muscle condition.

Verb '保持' (maintain).

4

他在比赛中展示了强大的肌肉力量。

He demonstrated powerful muscle strength in the competition.

Verb '展示' (display/show).

5

肌肉由许多肌纤维组成。

Muscles are composed of many muscle fibers.

'由...组成' (be composed of).

6

过度训练会导致肌肉疲劳。

Overtraining will lead to muscle fatigue.

Noun '疲劳' (fatigue).

7

我们需要分析肌肉的收缩过程。

We need to analyze the process of muscle contraction.

Verb '分析' (analyze).

8

他的肌肉线条非常流畅。

His muscle lines are very smooth/aesthetic.

Noun phrase '肌肉线条'.

1

长期缺乏运动会导致肌肉质量大幅下降。

Long-term lack of exercise will lead to a significant decline in muscle mass.

Formal phrase '大幅下降' (significant decline).

2

这种生理反应涉及到肌肉的非自主收缩。

This physiological reaction involves involuntary muscle contraction.

Verb '涉及到' (involve).

3

肌肉的协调性是完成复杂动作的关键。

Muscle coordination is the key to completing complex movements.

Noun '协调性' (coordination).

4

该国正通过军事演习向邻国展示肌肉。

The country is flexing its muscles to its neighbors through military exercises.

Metaphorical use of '展示肌肉'.

5

蛋白质对于肌肉修复至关重要。

Protein is vital for muscle repair.

Formal idiom '至关重要' (vital/crucial).

6

肌肉痉挛可能是由于电解质紊乱引起的。

Muscle cramps may be caused by electrolyte imbalance.

Passive structure '由于...引起的'.

7

研究表明,这种激素能促进肌肉生长。

Research shows that this hormone can promote muscle growth.

Verb '促进' (promote).

8

他的肌肉在灯光下呈现出一种雕塑感。

His muscles took on a sculptural quality under the lights.

Verb '呈现' (present/take on).

1

肌肉组织的再生能力受多种生物因子的调控。

The regenerative capacity of muscle tissue is regulated by various biological factors.

Academic passive structure '受...调控'.

2

宇航员在失重环境下会面临严重的肌肉流失问题。

Astronauts face serious muscle loss issues in zero-gravity environments.

Formal term '肌肉流失' (muscle loss).

3

肌肉效能的优化取决于神经系统的精准控制。

The optimization of muscle efficiency depends on the precise control of the nervous system.

Verb '取决于' (depends on).

4

这种病症表现为骨骼肌的进行性虚弱。

The condition manifests as progressive weakness of the skeletal muscles.

Medical term '进行性' (progressive).

5

肌肉的粘滞性会随着温度的升高而降低。

Muscle viscosity decreases as temperature increases.

'随着...而...' structure.

6

这种训练方法旨在提高肌肉的无氧耐力。

This training method aims to improve anaerobic muscle endurance.

Formal verb '旨在' (aim to).

7

肌肉与骨骼的杠杆作用是生物力学的核心研究内容。

The leverage of muscles and bones is a core research topic in biomechanics.

Technical term '杠杆作用' (leverage).

8

在这一外交博弈中,双方都在通过各种手段展示肌肉。

In this diplomatic gambit, both sides are flexing their muscles through various means.

Highly metaphorical/political register.

Colocações comuns

锻炼肌肉
肌肉酸痛
肌肉发达
肌肉萎缩
肌肉记忆
肌肉紧张
肌肉拉伤
肌肉线条
展示肌肉
放松肌肉

Frases Comuns

练肌肉

— To work out to build muscle. Very common in gym talk.

我最近在练肌肉。

长肌肉

— To gain or grow muscle. Used to describe the result of training.

吃蛋白粉可以长肌肉。

腹肌

— Short for abdominal muscles (abs). Everyone wants them.

他有六块腹肌。

肌肉男

— Slang for a muscular man or a 'buff' guy.

街上有很多肌肉男。

没肌肉

— To have no muscle; used to describe a thin or weak person.

他瘦得没肌肉。

肌肉块

— Muscle mass or specific muscle groups.

他的肌肉块很大。

肌肉群

— Muscle groups. Used in technical fitness contexts.

今天要训练大肌肉群。

全身肌肉

— Muscles of the entire body.

他感到全身肌肉都在疼。

肌肉注射

— Intramuscular injection. A common medical term.

这种药需要肌肉注射。

肌肉劳损

— Muscle strain from repetitive use.

由于长期工作,他肌肉劳损了。

Frequentemente confundido com

肌肉 vs 鸡肉 (jī ròu)

Homophone meaning 'chicken meat'. Distinguish by characters and context.

肌肉 vs 力量 (lìliàng)

Means 'strength'. Muscles provide strength, but they are not synonyms.

肌肉 vs 筋 (jīn)

Means 'tendon' or 'sinew'. Often used colloquially for muscle but less precise.

Expressões idiomáticas

"展示肌肉"

— To show off one's strength, often used in a military or political context.

这是一种政治上的展示肌肉。

Neutral/Formal
"筋疲力尽"

— To be completely exhausted, physically and mentally (literally: muscles and strength exhausted).

跑完马拉松,我筋疲力尽。

Neutral
"摩拳擦掌"

— To be eager for a fight or to start a task (literally: rubbing fists and palms, implying muscle readiness).

运动员们摩拳擦掌,准备比赛。

Neutral
"手无缚鸡之力"

— To be extremely weak (literally: not having the strength to tie up a chicken).

他是个书生,手无缚鸡之力。

Literary
"力大无穷"

— Possessing infinite strength.

传说他力大无穷,能举起大鼎。

Literary
"铜筋铁骨"

— Having a body of copper and bones of iron; extremely strong and tough.

他练过功夫,真是铜筋铁骨。

Literary
"大块头"

— A big, muscular person.

那个大块头是谁?

Informal
"孔武有力"

— Strong and powerful.

他长得孔武有力。

Formal
"虎背熊腰"

— Broad-backed and strong-waisted; having a powerful build.

他虎背熊腰,一看就是举重运动员。

Descriptive
"弱不禁风"

— So weak as to be unable to withstand a gust of wind.

她看起来弱不禁风。

Descriptive

Fácil de confundir

肌肉 vs 鸡肉

Identical pronunciation (jī ròu).

鸡肉 is food; 肌肉 is body tissue. Characters are totally different.

我喜欢吃鸡肉,也喜欢练肌肉。

肌肉 vs 基因

Starts with 'jī'.

基因 (jī yīn) means 'gene'. It's a biological term but unrelated to muscle tissue.

他的肌肉发达是因为基因好。

肌肉 vs 几肉

Tonal error.

几 (jǐ) means 'how many'. This is not a real word.

None.

肌肉 vs 肌肉 vs 肥肉

Both are 'meat' on the body.

肌肉 is muscle; 肥肉 is fat (specifically white fat).

我要把肥肉变成肌肉。

肌肉 vs 肌肉 vs 瘦肉

Both refer to non-fat meat.

瘦肉 is a culinary term for lean meat; 肌肉 is anatomical.

这个猪肉有很多瘦肉。

Padrões de frases

A1

我有 + [noun]

我有肌肉。

A2

[Subject] + 每天 + [Verb] + 肌肉

他每天锻炼肌肉。

B1

[Subject] + 觉得 + 肌肉 + [Adjective]

我觉得肌肉很酸。

B2

[Activity] + 有助于 + 肌肉 + [Noun]

游泳有助于肌肉放松。

C1

由于 + [Cause], [Subject] + 肌肉 + [Result]

由于缺乏锻炼,他的肌肉开始萎缩。

C2

[Subject] + 旨在 + 通过 + [Action] + 展示肌肉

该国旨在通过演习展示肌肉。

B1

[Subject] + 练出了 + [Number] + 块 + [Body Part] + 肌

他练出了六块腹肌。

A2

[Body Part] + 肌肉 + 疼

我腿部肌肉疼。

Família de palavras

Substantivos

肌 (muscle/flesh)
肉 (meat)
腹肌 (abs)
胸肌 (pecs)
肌肉群 (muscle groups)

Verbos

练 (to practice/train)
锻炼 (to exercise)
拉伤 (to strain)
放松 (to relax)

Adjetivos

肌肉发达 (muscular)
结实 (firm)
酸痛 (sore)
僵硬 (stiff)

Relacionado

骨骼 (skeleton)
皮肤 (skin)
力量 (strength)
健身 (fitness)
运动 (sports)

Como usar

frequency

High, especially in the context of the growing fitness trend in China.

Erros comuns
  • Saying '我吃肌肉' (I eat muscle). 我吃鸡肉 (I eat chicken).

    Unless you are a cannibal, you eat chicken meat, not human muscle tissue.

  • Using '个' as a measure word. 一块肌肉。

    The correct measure word for muscle is '块'.

  • Confusing '肌肉' with '力量'. 他很有力量。

    You have strength (力量), you don't 'have muscle' to mean you are strong.

  • Writing '机' instead of '肌'. 肌肉。

    '机' means machine; '肌' means muscle. They sound the same but are different.

  • Using '肌肉' for culinary meat. 猪肉 / 牛肉。

    In a kitchen, use animal-specific terms, not the anatomical 'muscle'.

Dicas

Tone Mastery

Practice the first tone (jī) by holding a high note, then drop it sharply for the fourth tone (ròu).

Radical Recognition

The '月' in '肌' and '肉' is the meat radical. Recognizing this helps you identify words related to the body.

Specific Muscles

Learn the body part + 肌 pattern (e.g., 胸肌, 腹肌) to sound more advanced in your fitness talk.

The 'Meat' Confusion

Always clarify context if you think someone might misunderstand 'muscle' for 'chicken'.

Measure Word usage

Use '块' when you want to count individual muscles or 'packs' of abs.

Contextual Cues

If the conversation involves 'gym' or 'pain,' it's 'muscle.' If it's 'hungry' or 'restaurant,' it's 'chicken'.

Metaphorical Use

Don't be afraid to use '展示肌肉' in a political discussion; it's very native-like.

Medical Terms

If a doctor says '肌肉拉伤,' they mean a strain. '抽筋' means a cramp.

Social Media

Look for the hashtag #肌肉 on Chinese social media to see how people use the word today.

Muscle vs Sinew

Remember that '筋' is more colloquial and traditional, while '肌肉' is more modern and scientific.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'J' for 'Gym' and 'R' for 'Ripped.' You go to the Gym to get Ripped muscles (jī ròu).

Associação visual

Imagine a chicken (jī) lifting weights to get big muscles (jī ròu). This helps you remember the sound and the meaning simultaneously.

Word Web

肌肉 (Muscle) 锻炼 (Exercise) 健身房 (Gym) 教练 (Coach) 汗 (Sweat) 力量 (Power) 酸痛 (Sore) 蛋白粉 (Protein Powder)

Desafio

Try to name three parts of your body that have '肌肉' and describe if they are '结实' (firm) or '酸痛' (sore) today.

Origem da palavra

The term is a compound of two ancient characters. '肌' (jī) dates back to early scripts, depicting flesh or muscle tissue. '肉' (ròu) originally depicted a piece of meat with streaks of fat/fiber.

Significado original: The combination literally means 'muscle-meat,' distinguishing the functional tissue from general fat or bone.

Sino-Tibetan

Contexto cultural

Be careful when commenting on people's 肌肉 in China; while usually a compliment, some may find it too personal or focused on physical appearance.

In English, 'muscle' can mean influence. In Chinese, '展示肌肉' is also used for political or military posturing.

Bruce Lee (李小龙) is often cited as the pinnacle of 'lean muscle' (瘦肌肉) in Chinese culture. The 'Six-Pack' is universally referred to as '六块腹肌' in China. Arnold Schwarzenegger is known as '施瓦辛格' and is the face of '大块肌肉' (big muscles).

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

At the Gym

  • 练肌肉 (build muscle)
  • 肌肉泵感 (muscle pump)
  • 力竭 (failure)
  • 组间休息 (rest between sets)

At the Doctor

  • 肌肉拉伤 (muscle strain)
  • 肌肉痉挛 (muscle cramp)
  • 肌肉无力 (muscle weakness)
  • 康复训练 (rehab training)

Sports Commentary

  • 爆发力 (explosive power)
  • 肌肉线条 (muscle lines)
  • 核心力量 (core strength)
  • 竞技状态 (competitive state)

Cooking (Distinction)

  • 鸡肉 (chicken)
  • 猪肉 (pork)
  • 牛肉 (beef)
  • 瘦肉 (lean meat)

Politics

  • 展示肌肉 (flexing muscles)
  • 军事力量 (military power)
  • 威慑 (deterrence)
  • 博弈 (gambit)

Iniciadores de conversa

"你觉得练肌肉最快的方法是什么?(What do you think is the fastest way to build muscle?)"

"你运动完以后会肌肉酸痛吗?(Do your muscles get sore after you exercise?)"

"现在的中国年轻人是不是越来越喜欢练肌肉了?(Are young Chinese people liking building muscle more and more now?)"

"你比较喜欢大块肌肉还是瘦肌肉?(Do you prefer big muscles or lean muscles?)"

"如果肌肉拉伤了,你通常怎么处理?(If you strain a muscle, how do you usually handle it?)"

Temas para diário

写一写你最近一次感到肌肉酸痛的经历。(Write about the last time you felt muscle soreness.)

你认为拥有肌肉对健康有多重要?(How important do you think having muscles is for health?)

描述一个你认识的肌肉非常发达的人。(Describe someone you know who is very muscular.)

如果你可以拥有一种‘肌肉记忆’,你希望是什么技能?(If you could have a 'muscle memory,' what skill would you want?)

讨论一下社交媒体对人们追求肌肉的影响。(Discuss the impact of social media on people's pursuit of muscles.)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

You say '我肌肉抽筋了' (Wǒ jī ròu chōu jīn le). '抽筋' is the common word for cramp.

Yes, it can describe animal muscle tissue in a scientific context, though '肉' is more common for food.

The measure word is '块' (kuài), used for pieces or blocks of something.

The most common way is '腹肌' (fù jī), which is short for '腹部肌肉'.

In Chinese, the concept of 'flesh' and 'meat' is often the same (肉). '肌' specifies the contractile part.

No, you should use the animal name, e.g., '牛肉' (beef). Using '肌肉' would sound like you're buying anatomical specimens.

It is '肌肉记忆' (jī ròu jì yì). It's used just like in English.

Not necessarily. It can be a compliment or a slightly teasing term, depending on the tone.

Use '肌肉酸痛' (jī ròu suān tòng). '酸' means sour/aching.

‘肌肉’ is the full noun. ‘肌’ is usually a bound morpheme used in compounds like ‘心肌’ (heart muscle).

Teste-se 180 perguntas

writing

Write 'muscle' in Chinese characters.

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writing

Write: 'I exercise my muscles every day.'

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writing

Write: 'My muscles are sore after running.'

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writing

Write: 'Muscle memory is very important for playing the piano.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Describe the metaphorical meaning of '展示肌肉' in 3 sentences.

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'He has big muscles.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'I need to relax my muscles.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'He wants to build abs.'

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writing

Write: 'Overtraining leads to muscle fatigue.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write a short paragraph about the benefits of protein for muscles.

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write 'chicken meat' and 'muscle' and explain the difference.

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writing

Write: 'The doctor checked my muscles.'

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writing

Write: 'She has very beautiful muscle lines.'

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writing

Write: 'Muscle atrophy is a serious problem for the elderly.'

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writing

Write: 'The country showed its military muscles through a parade.'

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writing

Write: 'Strong muscles.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'My leg muscle hurts.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'I am a muscle man.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write: 'Muscle contraction produces movement.'

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Write a sentence using '骨骼肌' and '神经系统'.

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Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say 'I have muscles' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'My muscles are sore' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'I want to build abdominal muscles' in Chinese.

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speaking

Explain 'muscle memory' in simple Chinese.

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speaking

Discuss the importance of muscles in old age in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Big muscles' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'I am exercising my muscles' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'He is a muscle man' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Muscle strain' in Chinese.

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speaking

Use '展示肌肉' in a sentence about a company.

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speaking

Say 'Not chicken meat, but muscle' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'One muscle' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Relax your muscles' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Muscle fatigue' in Chinese.

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speaking

Explain why protein is good for muscles in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'My muscle' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Do your muscles hurt?' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Chest muscles' in Chinese.

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speaking

Say 'Muscle mass' in Chinese.

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speaking

Discuss 'muscle atrophy' in space in Chinese.

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listening

Listen and choose: '肌肉' or '鸡肉'?

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listening

Listen and write the measure word: '一块肌肉'.

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listening

Listen and identify the adjective: '他的肌肉很发达'.

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listening

Listen and identify the condition: '由于受伤,他的肌肉萎缩了'.

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listening

Listen and identify the metaphor: '这是一种外交上的展示肌肉'.

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listening

Listen: '我有肌肉。' Does the speaker have muscles?

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listening

Listen: '肌肉酸。' How do the muscles feel?

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listening

Listen: '练腹肌。' What is being trained?

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listening

Listen: '肌肉记忆。' What is the topic?

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listening

Listen: '肌肉痉挛。' What happened?

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listening

Listen: '大肌肉。' Big or small?

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listening

Listen: '放松肌肉。' What is the instruction?

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listening

Listen: '肌肉男。' Who is described?

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listening

Listen: '心肌。' Which muscle?

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listening

Listen: '肌肉协调性。' What is being discussed?

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/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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