胸
xiōng
The English word "chest" (thorax) is translated into Chinese as 胸 (xiōng). Wiktionary also lists 胸部 (xiōngbù) and 胸膛 (xiōngtáng).
Meaning: thorax (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 胸 | xiōng |
| 胸部 | xiōngbù |
| 胸膛 | xiōngtáng |
You may also encounter the phrase 胸前 to indicate the area specifically in front of the chest.
Which one should you use?
While 胸 is used generally, 胸部 is the more formal or anatomical term for the chest or thorax. In contrast, 胸膛 is a literary or descriptive term often used to describe a person's chest, frequently implying breadth or strength.
How do you pronounce it?
xiōng
Did you know?
- The term 胸 is used in the idiom 胸有成竹, which literally means 'having a bamboo in one's chest' to describe having a well-thought-out plan.
- The character 胸 was originally written as 匈 before the 'meat' radical was added to clarify that the word referred to a body part.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the area of the 胸 is considered a crossroads for several key energy channels, making it a primary focus for acupuncture to treat emotional stress.
Examples in context
- 你有胸痛吗？Are you having any chest pain?This sentence is useful for asking about chest pain.Tatoeba #13911082 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #5585371 by CK
- 湯姆在胸上有個頭骨文身。Tom has a tattoo of a skull on his chest.This sentence is useful for describing the location of a tattoo on the 胸.Tatoeba #6119479 by verdastelo9604, translation #4501225 by CK
- 你的胸很小。You have a small chest.This sentence is useful for describing the size of someone's 胸.Tatoeba #2302713 by sysko, translation #2304086 by FeuDRenais2
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei is feeling unwell and talking to Xiaowen.
- 伟 Wei我觉得胸口有点闷。Wǒ juéde xiōngkǒu yǒudiǎn mèn.I feel a bit of tightness in my chest.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你的胸疼不疼？Nǐ de xiōng téng bù téng?Does your chest hurt?
- 伟 Wei不疼，就是觉得不舒服。Bù téng, jiùshì juéde bù shūfu.It doesn't hurt, I just feel uncomfortable.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那你快去医院看看。Nà nǐ kuài qù yīyuàn kànkan.Then you should go to the hospital quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chest” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 胸, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
