肥胖
féipàng
The English word "obese" is translated into Chinese as 肥胖 (féipàng).
The term is used to describe someone who is extremely overweight.
Meaning: extremely overweight (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 肥胖 is composed of 肥, meaning fat and 胖, meaning overweight or fat.
Which one should you use?
While 胖 is a common, everyday word for "fat", 肥胖 is a more formal, medical or clinical term used for "obese".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions, the informal term 肥仔 is used to mean "fat boy". Additionally, in Taiwan and Southern China, the character 豬, meaning "pig", may be used figuratively to allude to obesity.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 肥胖 as an attributive adjective to modify a noun, such as "an obese person", it is common to add the particle 的.
How do you pronounce it?
féipàng
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the concept of 'fatness' was historically associated with wealth and prosperity, as being 胖 suggested one had enough food to eat.
- In Chinese, the character 肥 (féi) is used for both 'fat' and 'fertile', linking the concept of body mass to the idea of abundance or productivity.
- While 肥胖 is clinical, the word 圆润 means 'round and moist' and is used as a polite, poetic euphemism to describe someone who is pleasantly plump.
Examples in context
- 美國約 65% 成年人肥胖，這不利於對他們的健康。About 65% of American adults are obese, which is harmful to their health.This sentence shows how the term 肥胖 is used regarding health and populations.Tatoeba #13502316 by LeviHighway, translation #13547297 by LeviHighway
- 汤姆很肥胖。Tom is very obese.This sentence shows how to describe someone as being 肥胖.Tatoeba #10340619 by iiujik, translation #4495110 by CK
- 很多美国人是肥胖的。Many Americans are obese.This sentence uses 肥胖 to describe a group of people.Tatoeba #620119 by sysko, translation #620114 by ulyssemc1
- 我对自己的身材感到担心，因为我变得很肥胖了。I'm concerned about my figure because I've become very obese.
- 我从小到大都是个肥仔，但我没在意别人怎么看。I've been a fat boy since childhood, but I never cared about how others see me.
- 最近我吃了太多肉乾了，变得有点肥了。I've been eating too much jerky lately and have gained some weight.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing health at a gym.
- 伟 Wei如果不控制饮食，他会变得很肥胖。Rúguǒ bù kòngzhì yǐnshí, tā huì biàn de hěn féipàng.If he doesn't control his diet, he will become obese.
- 佳怡 Jiayi现在的年轻人确实容易肥胖。Xiànzài de niánqīng rén quèshí róngyì féipàng.Young people these days really do become obese easily.
- 伟 Wei所以我们要多运动。Suǒyǐ wǒmen yào duō yùndòng.That's why we need to exercise more.
- 佳怡 Jiayi没错，健康最重要。Méicuò, jiànkāng zuì zhòngyào.True, health is the most important thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “obese” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
