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.
| 肥 (féi) | 胖 (pàng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | fatty | fat |
| Part of Speech | adjective | adjective |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
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 胖。He is fatter than me.
- 你 太 胖 了，你 需要 多 运动。You are too fat. You need to exercise more.
- 我 最近 一直 没有 运动，有点 变 胖 了。I haven't been exercising lately and I'm getting a bit chubby.
- 胖 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 肥 了，我 不 喜欢 吃。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 肥 了。This puppy likes to eat and doesn't like to exercise, so it's getting fatter and fatter.
- 这 头 肥 猪 重 一 百 公斤。This fatty pig weighs 100 kg.
Sometimes 肥 can even refer to baggy clothing:
- 肥
Use 肥 when talking about losing weight
Example Sentences
- 为了 减肥，她 只 喝 无 糖 饮料。To lose weight, she only drinks sugar-free drinks.
- 我 觉得 跑步 对 减肥 没有 效果。I don't think running is effective for weight loss.
- 只要 你 每 天 少 吃 多 运动，就 一定 能 减肥 成功。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
