舒服
comfortable; feeling well
shūfu
What does 舒服 mean?
舒服 (shūfu) is an adjective meaning 'comfortable' — but it covers more ground than English 'comfortable.' It describes physical comfort (a soft chair, a warm bath), bodily wellness (feeling good in your skin), and even emotional ease (a relaxed atmosphere). Crucially, 不舒服 (bù shūfu) is the standard everyday way to say 'I don't feel well / I'm a bit sick' — you tell your boss 我今天有点不舒服 instead of 我生病了, because it sounds softer.
Native speakers also use 舒服 for things like clothes that feel good on the body, music that's pleasant to listen to, or weather that's just right. English speakers should resist translating it as 'happy' — 舒服 is about ease and absence of friction, not joy.
Note: Note the negative 不舒服 specifically means 'feeling unwell / under the weather,' not just 'uncomfortable.' It's the standard polite way to say you're sick.
Character breakdown
to stretch out; relax
to obey; clothing
Memory hook: 舒 means 'stretch out' and 服 evokes loose clothing — together they paint the image of 'relaxed and well-fitting': comfortable.
Example sentences
这个沙发很舒服。
Zhège shāfā hěn shūfu.
This sofa is very comfortable.
spoken
我今天有点不舒服。
Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn bù shūfu.
I'm feeling a bit off today.
spoken
你哪里不舒服？
Nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?
Where does it hurt? / What's wrong with you?
spoken
天气不冷不热，很舒服。
Tiānqì bù lěng bú rè, hěn shūfu.
The weather isn't cold or hot — really pleasant.
neutral
穿这件衣服很舒服。
Chuān zhè jiàn yīfu hěn shūfu.
Wearing this shirt feels really comfortable.
spoken