Chinese word

苗条

Pronunciation

Pinyinmiáo tiáo

Meaning

  • adjectiveslim

Example

他的身材很苗条。tā de shēn cái hěn miáo tiáo

He has a very slim build.

Illustration for 苗条 (slim)

More examples

她坚持运动后，整个人显得更苗条。tā jiān chí yùn dòng hòu zhěng gè rén xiǎn de gèng miáo tiáo

After she kept exercising, she looked slimmer overall.

Core concept

A figure that looks slender, light, and pleasingly proportioned rather than bulky.

Common phrases

  • 显得苗条xiǎn de miáo tiáo

    seem slim

  • 看起来苗条kàn qǐ lái miáo tiáo

    look slim

  • 穿衣显得苗条chuān yī xiǎn de miáo tiáo

    look slim in clothes

Similar words

瘦shòu: Describes a body that is thin because it has little fat.
纤细xiān xì: Describes a thin shape or body that looks fine and delicate.
修长xiū cháng: Describes a figure with a long, slender shape, especially in the limbs or body.
细长xì cháng: Describes something narrow and long, including a body whose length stands out.

Definition in Chinese

表示身形细长、体态轻盈而匀称，常用于描述人的体态并带有褒义。biǎo shì shēn xíng xì cháng tǐ tài qīng yíng ér yún chèn cháng yòng yú miáo shù rén de tǐ tài bìng dài yǒu bāo yì

Word origin

The compound 苗条 (miáotiáo, "slim") draws on 苗 (miáo, "young plant") and 条 (tiáo, "slender strip") to picture a person's body as a fine, narrow form.

Usage tips

  • In everyday descriptions, English speakers may hear thin as neutral or slightly critical, while this adjective presents a narrow, well-proportioned figure positively.

Other meanings

  • thinadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word