瘦

shòu

叟 + 疒

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

shòu (adjective) thin; skinny

shòu (verb) to lose weight

shòu (adjective) lean (of meat)

shòu (adjective) poor; unproductive (of land)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 叟 represents the sound.

Semantic: 疒 Phonetic: 叟

About

瘦 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 疒 (chuáng, sickness) serves as an enveloping structure on the top and left, while the phonetic component 叟 (sǒu) is placed inside. This demonstrates that extreme thinness was historically considered a medical condition or symptom of poor health. The primary meaning is thin, lean, or emaciated, used for people and animals with very little body fat, and also for meat that is lean. Beyond this, the character describes tight-fitting clothing, infertile land, and thin strokes in calligraphy.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个人很瘦。

Zhè gè rén hěn shòu.

This person is very thin.

我姐姐比以前瘦了。

Wǒ jiějie bǐ yǐqián shòu le.

My older sister is thinner than before.

他身材瘦削，但很健康。

Tā shēncái shòuxuē, dàn hěn jiànkāng.

He has a slender figure, but he is very healthy.

不要为了瘦而节食。

Bùyào wèile shòu ér jiéshí.

Don't diet just to be thin.

因为工作压力，他瘦了好几斤。

Yīnwèi gōngzuò yālì, tā shòu le hǎo jǐ jīn.

Because of work pressure, he lost several kilograms.

虽然瘦了，但他的精神却很好。

Suīrán shòu le, dàn tā de jīngshén què hěn hǎo.

Although he has lost weight, his spirits are very good.

这件衣服让瘦的人穿更好看。

Zhè jiàn yīfu ràng shòu de rén chuān gèng hǎokàn.

This clothing looks better on thin people.

鉴于健康考虑，医生建议他不要瘦得太快。

Jiànyú jiànkāng kǎolǜ, yīshēng jiànyì tā bùyào shòu de tài kuài.

Considering health concerns, the doctor advised him not to lose weight too quickly.

Related Characters

Component: 叟

Component: 疒

瘦