verb HSK 4
Traditional 發胖
to gain weight · to put on weight · to become fat
Meaning
发胖 literally means 'to develop fatness' and refers to the process of gaining weight or becoming heavier. It's a neutral, commonly used term to describe weight gain without necessarily being offensive, though context matters.
Usage
Native speakers use 发胖 in everyday conversation when discussing weight changes. It's more direct than euphemisms but not as blunt as calling someone 'fat.' Often used when people notice they've gained weight themselves or when discussing diet and health concerns. Commonly paired with verbs like 开始 (to start) or 容易 (to be prone to).
Examples
- 01最近我发胖了，裤子都穿不下了。, .I've gained weight recently; my pants don't fit anymore.
- 02中年以后很容易发胖。.It's easy to gain weight after middle age.
Characters
Common collocations
- 容易发胖prone to gaining weight
- 开始发胖to start gaining weight
- 发胖的原因the reason for gaining weight
Antonyms
Origin
发 here means 'to develop into' or 'to become,' combined with 胖 (fat), creating a verb that describes the process of becoming heavier.