Comparing "fei" and "pang"

肥 (féi) and 胖 (pàng) are both adjectives that mean "fat" and both are used in informal and formal settings. 胖 is the more normal word for "fat," while 肥 which is used to describe an animal that is fat or fatty meat, or to exaggerate "fat" for a person. When discussing going on a diet or trying to lose weight, 减肥 (jiǎnféi) is the only choice. A final difference is that only 肥 can be used to describe clothes that are loose-fitting or baggy.











B1HSK4ASV4567
肥 (féi) 胖 (pàng)
Meaning fatty fat
Part of Speech adjective adjective
Formality flexible flexible

胖 is the default word for "fat"

The word 胖 in Chinese is not as negative as "fat" in English. It can mean "solid" and "bulky," referring to muscle as well as fat, rather than just "obese."

Example Sentences

  • 他 比 我 Zhǐyào nǐ měi tiān shǎo chī duō yùndòng, jiù yīdìng néng jiǎn pàng chénggōng.He is fatter than me.
  • 你 太 了,你 需要 多 运动。Nǐ tài pàng le, nǐ xūyào duō yùndòng.You are too fat. You need to exercise more.
  • 我 最近 一直 没有 运动,有点 变 了。Wǒ zuìjìn yīzhí méiyǒu yùndòng, yǒudiǎn biàn pàng le.I haven't been exercising lately and I'm getting a bit chubby.
  • 的 人 穿 黑色 的 衣服 看起来 会 瘦 一点。A fat person looks thinner in black.

肥 can be "fat" for an animal, meat, or a person

肥 is more negative than 胖 in Chinese. It refers to only fatty tissue, like "flabby," and is frequently used for animals and meat.

  • 这 些 肉 太 了,我 不 喜欢 吃。Zhè xiē ròu tài féi le, wǒ bù xǐhuan chī.These meats are too fatty for my liking.
  • 这只 小狗 喜欢 吃 不 喜欢 运动,所以 它 越 长 越 了。Zhèzhǐ xiǎogǒu xǐhuan chī bù xǐhuan yùndòng, suǒyǐ tā yuèchángyuè féi le.This puppy likes to eat and doesn't like to exercise, so it's getting fatter and fatter.
  • 这 头 猪 重 一 百 公斤。Zhètóu féi zhū zhòng yī bǎi gōngjīn.This fatty pig weighs 100 kg.

Sometimes 肥 can even refer to baggy clothing:

Use 肥 when talking about losing weight

Example Sentences

  • 为了 ,她 只 喝 无 糖 饮料。Wèile jiǎnféi, tā zhǐ hē wú táng yǐnliào.To lose weight, she only drinks sugar-free drinks.
  • 我 觉得 跑步 对 没有 效果。Wǒ juéde pǎobù duì jiǎnféi méiyǒu xiàoguǒ.I don't think running is effective for weight loss.
  • 只要 你 每 天 少 吃 多 运动,就 一定 能 成功。Zhǐyào nǐ měi tiān shǎo chī duō yùndòng, jiù yīdìng néng jiǎnféi chénggōng.If you eat less and exercise more every day, you will definitely succeed in losing weight.

“胖”是指一个人有很多肉,体型宽广,但是很结实;“肥”是指脂肪较多,通常形容动物,形容人的话,带有贬义或者蔑视的作用;

Sources and further reading

Websites

胖和肥的区别是什么? https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/591425905316378925.html