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.
What does 你很胖 (nǐ hěn pàng) mean?
你很胖 (nǐ hěn pàng) means “you are fat” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you very fat.”
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 yǒudiǎn pàngyou are a bit plump (softer, less direct)
- 你身材比较丰满nǐ shēncái bǐjiào fēngmǎnyour figure is rather full/plump (more euphemistic, often for women)
Examples
他直接对她说：“你很胖。”
tā zhíjiē 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。”
yīshēng shuō: “nǐ yǒudiǎn pàng, yào zhùyì yǐnshí.”
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 biérén shuō “nǐ hěn pàng”, nàyàng hěn bù lǐmào.
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.
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