{"id":181929,"date":"2020-06-22T21:11:36","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T01:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/body-parts-in-chinese\/"},"modified":"2025-01-19T00:08:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T05:08:24","slug":"body-parts-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/body-parts-in-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete List of Body Parts in Chinese and Related Idioms"},"content":{"rendered":"

So how much of the body or \u8eab\u4f53 (sh\u0113n t\u01d0)<\/em> do you actually know?<\/p>\n

You might’ve already come across the\u00a0easy body parts in Chinese<\/a>. Maybe you even know how to say \u76ae\u80a4 (p\u00ed f\u016b)<\/em> for “skin” and \u6bdb (m\u00e1o)<\/em> for “(body) hair.”<\/p>\n

But if that’s the extent of your knowledge, it’s high time you go beyond the basics with this extensive guide on Chinese body parts<\/strong>, including related expressions and slang.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Head and Neck in Chinese\"body<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u5934 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u00f3u<\/em><\/td>head<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8138 <\/a>\n <\/td>li\u01cen<\/em><\/td>face<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5934\u53d1 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u00f3u f\u00e0<\/em><\/td>hair<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u989d\u5934 <\/a>\n <\/td>\u00e9 t\u00f3u<\/em><\/td>forehead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7709\u6bdb <\/a>\n <\/td>m\u00e9i mao<\/em><\/td>eyebrow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u773c\u775b <\/a>\n <\/td>y\u01cen j\u012bng<\/em><\/td>eye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u776b\u6bdb <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u00e9 m\u00e1o<\/em><\/td>eyelashes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8033\u6735 <\/a>\n <\/td>\u011br duo<\/em><\/td>ear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8033\u5782 <\/a>\n <\/td>\u011br chu\u00ed<\/em><\/td>earlobe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9f3b\u5b50 <\/a>\n <\/td>b\u00ed zi<\/em><\/td>nose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8138\u988a <\/a>\n <\/td>li\u01cen ji\u00e1<\/em><\/td>cheek<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5634\u5df4 <\/a>\n <\/td>zu\u01d0 b\u0101<\/em><\/td>mouth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5634\u5507 <\/a>\n <\/td>zu\u01d0 ch\u00fan<\/em><\/td>lips<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7259\u9f7f <\/a>\n <\/td>y\u00e1 ch\u01d0<\/em><\/td>tooth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u820c <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u00e9<\/em><\/td>tongue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4e0b\u5df4 <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u00e0 ba<\/em><\/td>chin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u989a <\/a>\n <\/td>\u00e8<\/em><\/td>jaw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8116\u5b50 <\/a>\n <\/td>b\u00f3 zi<\/em><\/td>neck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The face expresses a lot of emotions. In English, we have terms like “long face” to show unhappiness or disappointment, and “red face” to signify embarrassment or anger.<\/p>\n

Chinese has similar expressions, with terms like \u7ef7\u8138 (b\u011bng li\u01cen)<\/em> which literally translates to “stretch face,” and \u8138\u7ea2 (li\u01cen h\u00f3ng)<\/em> translating to “face red” to indicate blushing with embarrassment or anger.<\/p>\n

Common expressions involving the eyes usually have something to do with grabbing someone’s attention.<\/p>\n

For example, \u62a2\u773c (qi\u01ceng y\u01cen)<\/em> literally means “snatch eyes” but translates to “eye-catching.”<\/p>\n

There’s also the Chinese proverb about love<\/a>, \u5404\u82b1\u5165\u5404\u773c\u00a0(g\u00e8 hu\u0101 r\u00f9 g\u00e8 y\u01cen)<\/em> that means “different flowers match different eyes,” which is close to the Western adage of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.<\/p>\n

Here are a few other expressions:<\/p>\n

\u5de6\u8033\u8fdb\u53f3\u8033\u51fa (zu\u01d2 \u011br j\u00ecn y\u00f2u \u011br ch\u016b)<\/em> \u2014 left ear in, right ear out (literally); in one ear and out the other<\/p>\n

\u6bd2\u820c (d\u00fa sh\u00e9)<\/em> \u2014 poisonous tongue (lit.);\u00a0 a harsh critic<\/p>\n

\u6324\u7709\u5f04\u773c\u00a0(j\u01d0 m\u00e9i n\u00f2ng y\u01cen)<\/em> \u2014 squeeze your eyebrows, play with eyes (lit.); to wink, to make eyes<\/p>\n

Parts of the Torso in Chinese
\n\"body<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u8eaf\u5e72 <\/a>\n <\/td>q\u016b g\u00e0n<\/em><\/td>torso<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80a9\u8180 <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u0101n b\u01ceng<\/em><\/td>shoulder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80f8\u90e8 <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u014dng b\u00f9<\/em><\/td>chest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u809a\u5b50 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u01d4 zi<\/em><\/td>abdomen, belly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u809a\u8110 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u00f9 q\u00ed<\/em><\/td>navel, belly button<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8170 <\/a>\n <\/td>y\u0101o<\/em><\/td>waist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u81c0\u90e8 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u00fan b\u00f9<\/em><\/td>hip<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80cc <\/a>\n <\/td>b\u00e8i<\/em><\/td>back<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c41\u80a1 <\/a>\n <\/td>p\u00ec gu<\/em><\/td>butt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

There are actually quite a number of idioms that include the chest and abdomen in Chinese, as people believe that the torso is the container of emotions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One example would be \u6376\u80f8\u987f\u8db3 (chu\u00ed xi\u014dng d\u00f9n z\u00fa)<\/em> meaning “to beat one’s chest and stamp one’s feet” to describe grief, sorrow or anguish. It’s almost like the Western saying of beating yourself up over something. Other common sayings use different synonyms for chest in Chinese.<\/p>\n

Parts of the Arm in Chinese<\/h2>\n

\"body<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u80f3\u818a <\/a>\n <\/td>g\u0113 bo<\/em><\/td>arm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u814b\u4e0b <\/a>\n <\/td>y\u00e8 xi\u00e0<\/em><\/td>armpit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8098 <\/a>\n <\/td>zh\u01d2u<\/em><\/td>elbow, knuckle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u524d\u81c2 <\/a>\n <\/td>qi\u00e1n b\u00ec<\/em><\/td>forearm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u624b\u8155 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u01d2u w\u00e0n<\/em><\/td>wrist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u624b <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u01d2u<\/em><\/td>hand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u624b\u638c <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u01d2u zh\u01ceng<\/em><\/td>palm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u624b\u6307 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u01d2u zh\u01d0<\/em><\/td>finger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u62c7\u6307 <\/a>\n <\/td>m\u01d4 zh\u01d0<\/em><\/td>thumb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6307\u7532 <\/a>\n <\/td>zh\u01d0 jia<\/em><\/td>fingernail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

If you completed a task that you felt took no effort at all, you might say it was \u6613\u5982\u53cd\u638c (y\u00ec r\u00fa f\u01cen zh\u01ceng),<\/em> or literally “easy as turning your palm.”<\/p>\n

To describe worry or sorrow, you might use the term \u627c\u8155 (\u00e8 w\u00e0n),<\/em> literally meaning “to wring one’s wrist.”<\/p>\n

Parts of the Leg in Chinese<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u817f <\/a>\n <\/td>tu\u01d0<\/em><\/td>leg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5927\u817f <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u00e0 tu\u01d0<\/em><\/td>thigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u819d\u76d6 <\/a>\n <\/td>x\u012b g\u00e0i<\/em><\/td>knee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80eb\u9aa8 <\/a>\n <\/td>j\u00ecng g\u01d4<\/em><\/td>shin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c0f\u817f <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u01ceo tu\u01d0<\/em><\/td>calf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u811a\u8e1d <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u01ceo hu\u00e1i<\/em><\/td>ankle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u811a <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u01ceo<\/em><\/td>foot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u811a\u5e95 <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u01ceo d\u01d0<\/em><\/td>sole<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u811a\u8ddf <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u01ceo g\u0113n<\/em><\/td>heel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u811a\u8dbe <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u01ceo zh\u01d0<\/em><\/td>toe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u62c7\u8dbe <\/a>\n <\/td>m\u01d4 zh\u01d0<\/em><\/td>big toe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8dbe\u7532 <\/a>\n <\/td>zh\u01d0 jia<\/em><\/td>toenail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Generally, the movement of legs or feet signifies extreme anger or anxiety.<\/p>\n

If you wanted something more emotive or colorful than\u00a0\u751f\u6c14 (sh\u0113ng q\u00ec)<\/em> meaning “angry,” you could always use \u8df3\u811a (ti\u00e0o ji\u01ceo)<\/em>, literally meaning “jumping feet,” though it really means “to stomp feet in rage or anxiety” or “hopping mad.”<\/p>\n

Internal Body Parts in Chinese\"body<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u8111 <\/a>\n <\/td>n\u01ceo<\/em><\/td>brain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5589 <\/a>\n <\/td>h\u00f3u<\/em><\/td>throat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5fc3 <\/a>\n <\/td>x\u012bn<\/em><\/td>heart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9759\u8109 <\/a>\n <\/td>j\u00ecng m\u00e0i<\/em><\/td>vein<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u52a8\u8109 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u00f2ng m\u00e0i<\/em><\/td>artery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80ba <\/a>\n <\/td>f\u00e8i<\/em><\/td>lung<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80c3 <\/a>\n <\/td>w\u00e8i<\/em><\/td>stomach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5927\u80a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u00e0 ch\u00e1ng<\/em><\/td>large intestine, colon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c0f\u80a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u01ceo ch\u00e1ng<\/em><\/td>small intestine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u809d <\/a>\n <\/td>g\u0101n<\/em><\/td>liver<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u813e <\/a>\n <\/td>p\u00ed<\/em><\/td>spleen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u80c6\u56ca <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u01cen n\u00e1ng<\/em><\/td>gallbladder, guts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u751f\u6b96\u5668 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u0113ng zh\u00ed q\u00ec<\/em><\/td>genitals, reproductive organs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8180\u80f1 <\/a>\n <\/td>p\u00e1ng gu\u0101ng<\/em><\/td>bladder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c3f\u9053 <\/a>\n <\/td>ni\u00e0o d\u00e0o<\/em><\/td>urethra, urinary tract<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u808c <\/a>\n <\/td>j\u012b<\/em><\/td>muscle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5173\u8282 <\/a>\n <\/td>gu\u0101n ji\u00e9<\/em><\/td>joint<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9aa8 <\/a>\n <\/td>g\u01d4<\/em><\/td>bone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9aa8\u67b6 <\/a>\n <\/td>g\u01d4 ji\u00e0<\/em><\/td>skeleton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u810a\u67f1 <\/a>\n <\/td>j\u01d0 zh\u00f9<\/em><\/td>spine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Have you ever noticed that a lot of the words for “happy” in Chinese have \u5fc3<\/strong>\u00a0it? According to Chinese culture, the heart is the source of emotions<\/a>, and it’s actually quite beautiful that many positive feelings in Chinese include the character, such as:<\/p>\n

\u5f00\u5fc3 (k\u0101i x\u012bn)<\/em> \u2014 open heart (lit.); happy, elated<\/p>\n

\u5fc3\u65f7\u795e\u6021 (x\u012bn ku\u00e0ng sh\u00e9n y\u00ed)<\/em> \u2014 heart untroubled, spirit pleased (lit.); relaxed and carefree<\/p>\n

\u5fc3\u9189 (x\u012bn zu\u00ec)<\/em> \u2014 heart drunk (lit.); enchanted, charmed<\/p>\n

But as the heart is the source of all emotions, \u5fc3<\/strong>\u00a0also appears in negative qualities, with \u5fc3\u6025 (x\u012bn j\u00ed)<\/em> and \u5fc3\u5207 (x\u012bn qi\u00e8)<\/em> both meaning “impatient” or “eager.”<\/p>\n

In Chinese, the gallbladder represents courage\u2014and sometimes, lack thereof. Terms and expressions concerning the gallbladder could make a hefty list of their own, so we’ll include just a few below:<\/p>\n

\u80c6\u91cf (d\u01cen li\u00e0ng)<\/em> \u2014 \u00a0gallbladder amount (lit.); courage<\/p>\n

\u80c6\u5927 (d\u01cen d\u00e0)<\/em> \u2014 gallbladder big (lit.); bold, daring<\/p>\n

\u80c6\u5c0f (d\u01cen xi\u01ceo)<\/em> \u2014 gallbladder small (lit.); timid<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Know Body Parts in Chinese<\/h2>\n

To describe your aches and pains when you’re at the hospital<\/h3>\n

Let’s face it. It’s kind of silly having to point out where it hurts, especially as an adult.<\/p>\n

It’s also quite tedious communicating via translation apps; so why not make it easier for everyone and learn the terms? In addition to learning\u00a0some Chinese medical terms<\/a>, knowing the different parts of the body in Chinese just makes sense in case you ever have a medical emergency or need to visit a doctor in a Mandarin-speaking destination.<\/p>\n

Studying body parts in Chinese doesn’t have to be intensive. It’s just a matter of including it as part of your vocabulary learning routine, adding these words to your existing vocab lists and hospital-themed flashcards. There are also body-related flashcard decks available across the web and language apps if you like the features of digital learning materials.<\/p>\n

\"body<\/a><\/p>\n

For example, the body parts deck on the online language program FluentU<\/a> is interactive, showing you definitions and other learning aids as you hover over words. The flashcards are also connected to the app’s video library, so you can see them in context.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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