Comparing "fei" and "pang"
肥 and 胖 both are adjectives that mean fat and both are used in informal and formal settings. Yet, these words are used very differently. 胖 is used to describe a person who is fat, compared to 肥 which is used to describe an animal that is fat. (But, nonetheless, a person who is on a diet or trying to lose weight (减肥）can only be paired with “肥”). A final difference is only 肥 can be used to describe clothes that are loose-fitting or baggy.
| 肥 (féi) | 胖 (pàng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | fatty | fat |
| Part of Speech | adjective | adjective |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
