瘦
thin; lean
shòu
What does 瘦 mean?
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').
Note: Calling someone 瘦 is usually a compliment in Chinese, unlike English 'skinny' which can sound critical. For 'too thin / underweight,' add 太 (tài) or use 偏瘦
Character breakdown
thin; lean
Memory hook: The 疒 'sickness' radical hints that being too 瘦 used to suggest illness — though today it's mostly a compliment.
Example sentences
你最近瘦了！
Nǐ zuìjìn shòu le!
You've gotten thinner lately!
spoken
我喜欢吃瘦肉，不喜欢肥肉。
Wǒ xǐhuan chī shòuròu, bù xǐhuan féiròu.
I like lean meat, not fatty meat.
neutral
他个子高，人也很瘦。
Tā gèzi gāo, rén yě hěn shòu.
He's tall and also very thin.
neutral
这条裤子有点儿瘦。
Zhè tiáo kùzi yǒudiǎnr shòu.
These pants are a bit too narrow.
spoken
为了健康，他想瘦下来。
Wèile jiànkāng, tā xiǎng shòu xiàlái.
For his health, he wants to slim down.
neutral
Common phrases with 瘦
Synonyms
苗条 means 'slim / slender' and is a clear compliment used mostly for women's figures. 瘦 is neutral and works for anyone or any meat cut.
Don't confuse 瘦 with
FAQ
Acquire by listening
Hear 瘦 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this word shows up again and again in real sentences. Pinyin, translation, and the episode where you heard it — every time. Free to start, no card.