你很胖
nǐ hěn pàng
You are fat
你很胖 (nǐ hěn pàng) directly translates to "you are fat." While grammatically correct, it is generally considered rude and impolite to say this to someone in Chinese culture.
When to use it
Highly impolite and direct. Avoid using this phrase in most social situations. In Chinese culture, commenting on someone's weight, especially negatively, is often seen as very rude. If you must refer to someone being overweight, it's better to use softer terms like 你有点胖 (nǐ yǒu diǎn pàng, "you're a bit plump") or to avoid direct comments on appearance altogether.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like "nee HUN pang." The "很" (hěn) is a rising tone, and "胖" (pàng) is a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 你太胖了nǐ tài pàng leyou are too fat (even stronger/more critical)
- 你有点胖nǐ yǒu diǎn pàngyou are a bit plump (softer, less direct)
- 你身材比较丰满nǐ shēn cái bǐ jiào fēng mǎnyour figure is rather full/plump (more euphemistic, often for women)
Examples
他直接对她说：“你很胖。”
tā zhí jiē duì tā shuō ：“ nǐ hěn pàng 。”
He directly said to her, "You are fat."
医生说：“你有点胖，要注意饮食。”
yī shēng shuō ：“ nǐ yǒu diǎn pàng ， yào zhù yì yǐn shí 。”
The doctor said, "You are a bit plump, you should watch your diet."
别对别人说“你很胖”，那样很不礼貌。
bié duì bié rén shuō “ nǐ hěn pàng ”， nà yàng hěn bù lǐ mào 。
Don't say "you are fat" to others; that's very impolite.
Pro tip: In Chinese culture, commenting directly on someone's weight, especially with "你很胖," is often considered very rude and can cause offense. It's best to avoid such direct remarks about appearance.
Related phrases
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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