Meaning
苗条 describes a person with a slim, graceful figure, particularly referring to someone who is pleasingly thin without being too skinny. It carries a positive connotation and is most commonly used to describe women's body shape, though it can apply to men as well.
Usage
This is a complimentary term in Chinese culture, where slimness is generally considered attractive. It's commonly used when praising someone's figure or appearance. Unlike some body-related terms, 苗条 is polite and appropriate in most social contexts. Often used with verbs like 保持 (to maintain) or 变得 (to become).
Examples
- 01她的身材很苗条，看起来特别优雅。, .She has a very slender figure and looks especially elegant.
- 02为了保持苗条，她每天都去健身房锻炼。, .In order to stay slim, she goes to the gym to exercise every day.
Characters
Common collocations
- 身材苗条slender figure
- 保持苗条to stay slim
- 苗条的身材a slim figure
- 变得苗条to become slender
Antonyms
Origin
The character 苗 (seedling) combined with 条 (slender strip/twig) creates an image of a young, tender plant shoot—naturally thin and graceful, which metaphorically describes a slim figure.