胖

pàng
HSK 3
#1,890 most
frequent character
fat, plump
adjective

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

胖 joins 月 meat with 半 half, which supplies both meaning and sound. It first meant half an animal offered in sacrifice. From that came 'fat, stout.' Read pán, it instead means 'content and healthy,' a meaning borrowed for its sound.

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Example Sentences

他很胖。
tā hěnpàng 。
He is very fat.
这只猫有点胖。
zhè zhī māo yǒudiǎn pàng 。
This cat is a bit plump.
她喜欢胖的狗。
tā xǐhuān pàng de gǒu 。
She likes fat dogs.

Same Characters, Different Readings

胖pán
healthy, at ease

Words with similar meanings

肥féi
fat
This term is more commonly used and can sometimes imply a sense of being well-fed.
丰腴fēngyú
plump
This word is more formal and can have a more positive connotation, often referring to a healthy-looking body.

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Public Lists with 胖

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Descriptive words for size, quality, temperature, mood, and more.
HSK 3
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