你很矮
nǐ hěn ǎi
To say "you are short" in Chinese, you use 你很矮 (nǐ hěn ǎi).
The phrase is used to tell someone that they have a small physical height.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 你很矮 literally translates to "you very short". The word 很 (hěn) is used as a standard way to link a subject to an adjective, even if the word "very" is not strongly intended in English.
Which one should you use?
The word 矮 (ǎi) refers specifically to physical height. Do not confuse it with 短 (duǎn), which is used for things that are short in terms of length or duration.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, people commonly say 你的身高不高 to express "You are not tall."
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, you do not use the verb "to be" (是 – shì) when using an adjective like 矮 (ǎi) to describe a quality. Instead, you use an adverb like 很 (hěn) to connect the subject and the adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ hěn ǎi
Did you know?
- While 矮 ('short') describes height, the word 短 ('short') is used for things like hair or a pencil. If you accidentally use 短 to describe a person, it can imply they are physically missing a limb or are 'stumpy'.
- Even if you do not mean to say someone is 'very' short, you must still include 很 in the sentence. Omitting it can actually change the tone from a simple statement to a comparison, such as 'you are shorter [than someone else]'.
- To avoid the bluntness of the word 'short', you can use the noun phrase 小个子 (xiǎo gè zi), which literally means 'small person'.
Examples in context
- 你看，他觉得你很矮。Nǐ kàn, tā juéde nǐ hěn ǎi.Look, he thinks you are short.
- 你很矮，所以要踮起脚尖。Nǐ hěn ǎi, suǒyǐ yào diān qǐ jiǎojiān.You are short, so you need to stand on your tiptoes.
Example conversation
Two friends are comparing their heights while standing side by side.
- 雨婷 Yuting你看，你很矮。Nǐ kàn, nǐ hěn ǎi.Look, you are short.
- 浩然 Haoran我才没有，你太高了。Wǒ cái méiyǒu, nǐ tài gāo le.I am not, you are just too tall.
- 雨婷 Yuting事实就是你很矮。Shìshí jiùshì nǐ hěn ǎi.The fact is you are short.
- 浩然 Haoran好了，别再说了。Hǎole, bié zài shuō le.Alright, stop talking about it.
