adjective HSK 4
on the thin side · rather thin · slightly underweight
Meaning
This word describes someone whose body type leans toward being thin or slender. The character 偏 adds a sense of 'leaning toward' or 'somewhat,' while 瘦 means thin or skinny. Together they indicate a mild tendency rather than an extreme condition.
Usage
Commonly used to describe body type in a relatively neutral or polite way, softer than saying someone is simply 瘦 (thin). Often appears in health or physical description contexts. Can be used for self-description or when discussing others without being too direct or potentially offensive.
Examples
- 01他的身材偏瘦，需要多吃一点。, .His build is on the thin side; he needs to eat more.
- 02医生说我体型偏瘦，但还算健康。, .The doctor said my body type is rather thin, but I'm still considered healthy.
Characters
Common collocations
- 身材偏瘦have a thin build
- 体型偏瘦body type is on the thin side
- 看起来偏瘦look rather thin
Antonyms
Origin
偏 originally meant 'to lean to one side' or 'partial,' combining with body-type adjectives to indicate a tendency. 瘦 depicts a person (人) who is small (叟), suggesting thinness.