瘦

瘦 (shòu) is an adjective meaning 'thin' or 'lean' — used for people, animals, and meat. Two cultural notes English speakers should know: first, telling a friend 你瘦了 ('you've gotten thinner') is generally a compliment in Mainland China, where slimness is admired; the opposite, 你胖了, can sound blunt or rude. Second, when shopping for meat, 瘦肉 (shòuròu) means 'lean meat' as opposed to 肥肉 (féiròu, 'fatty meat').

瘦 can also describe clothes that are cut narrow or tight (这条裤子太瘦了 — these pants are too narrow). The direct opposite for people is 胖 (pàng, 'fat'); for things or fabric, the opposite is often 宽 (kuān, 'wide / loose').