Meaning
健身 literally means 'to strengthen the body.' It refers to physical exercise done to improve health, build muscle, or maintain fitness. In modern usage, it commonly refers to going to the gym or engaging in structured fitness activities.
Usage
This term is very popular in contemporary Chinese society with the rise of gym culture. Native speakers use it both as a verb (我去健身 'I'm going to work out') and as a noun modifier (健身房 'gym', 健身教练 'fitness trainer'). It carries a modern, health-conscious connotation and is more specific than the general term 运动 (exercise/sports).
Examples
- 01我每天下班后都去健身房健身。.I go to the gym to work out every day after work.
- 02他坚持健身已经三年了，身材变得很好。, .He's been consistently working out for three years now, and his physique has become very good.
Characters
Measure words
- 次健身一次
Common collocations
- 健身房gym, fitness center
- 健身教练fitness trainer, personal trainer
- 健身器材fitness equipment
- 去健身to go work out
Origin
The word combines 健 (healthy/strong) with 身 (body), forming a compound that means 'to make the body healthy.' This construction became popular in the 20th century alongside modern fitness culture.