哑铃
yǎlíng
The English word "dumbbell" is translated into Chinese as 哑铃 (yǎlíng).
哑铃 refers to a piece of exercise equipment consisting of a weight with two disks attached to a short bar.
Meaning: a weight with two disks attached to a short bar (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term is written using traditional characters as 啞鈴.
How do you pronounce it?
yǎlíng
Did you know?
- The term 哑铃 is a calque, meaning it was created by translating the English 'dumbbell' literally into Chinese. The 'dumb' in 'dumbbell' originally meant 'silent', which is why the Chinese word uses 哑 for 'mute'.
- The characters in 哑铃 literally translate to 'mute bell'.
- The concept of a 'bell' used as a weight is a Western loan-translation, as traditional Chinese weights were often shaped like cylindrical or cuboid stones rather than bells.
Examples in context
- 我每天都使用哑铃进行锻炼。I use dumbbells for exercise every day.
- 我昨天买了一对杠铃。I bought a pair of dumbbells yesterday.
- 那对哑铃很重。Nà duì yǎlíng hěn zhòng.That pair of dumbbells is very heavy.
- 我想买一个哑铃。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí ge yǎlíng.I want to buy a dumbbell.
- 他在用哑铃锻炼。Tā zài yòng yǎlíng duànliàn.He is exercising with dumbbells.
Example conversation
Two friends are working out at the gym.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你在用哪个哑铃？Jùnjié, nǐ zài yòng nǎge yǎlíng?Junjie, which dumbbell are you using?
- 俊杰 Junjie我在用五公斤的哑铃。Wǒ zài yòng wǔ gōngjīn de yǎlíng.I am using the five-kilogram dumbbells.
- 梓涵 Zihan那我可以用它吗？Nà wǒ kěyǐ yòng tā ma?Can I use them then?
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，梓涵，给你。Méi wèntí, Zǐhán, gěi nǐ.No problem, Zihan, here you go.
