苗條 / 苗条
miáotiáo
The English word 'slim' can be translated into Chinese as 苗條 / 苗条 (miáotiáo). Wiktionary also lists 纖細 / 纤细 (xiānxì).
Meaning: slender (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 苗條 / 苗条 | miáotiáo |
| 纖細 / 纤细 | xiānxì |
苗條 / 苗条 is used to describe a person's body shape as being slender and graceful. Using this word to describe a woman's figure is generally considered a compliment.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to being thin, they are used in different contexts. 苗條 / 苗条 (miáotiáo) describes a person's overall body silhouette or figure. In contrast, 纖細 / 纤细 (xiānxì) is used to describe specific parts of the body that are thin and delicate, such as fingers, wrists or legs.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that someone is 'very slim', you typically place the adverb 很 (hěn) before 苗條.
How do you pronounce it?
miáotiáo
Did you know?
- The character 苗 (miáo) in 苗條 originally refers to a 'sprout' or 'seedling', evoking the image of a young plant's straight and lithe growth.
- The term 纖細 (xiānxì) is often used in literature and poetry to describe the 'willow-like' waist of a woman, a traditional Chinese aesthetic standard for elegance.
- In Chinese, 'slim' or 'delicate' descriptions like 纖細 (xiānxì) are frequently used in literature to describe the elegance of calligraphy strokes or even the fine texture of silk.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slim” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
