Have you experienced having a problem with your body part but don’t know how to say it? Well, worry no more. In this post, we’ll learn about body parts in Chinese. Let’s begin!
Learning about different body parts is one of the first things we learn as a child. Maybe you can still recall the shows, books, posters, and charts that our parents and teachers used to teach and practice about naming body parts. Of course, by now, we are experts in calling body parts in our native language, but have you tried doing it in another language?
Communication, expressions, and knowledge are just a few advantages of learning about body parts in other languages like Chinese. When you travel, let’s say in China and other Chinese countries, you might experience body aches or health emergencies. So, it’s helpful if you know how to point it out, especially to the doctor.
Knowing about body parts is also helpful when discussing beauty or appearance, especially when buying beauty products or body essentials. Mastering the different body parts is also necessary for the medical or fitness field. Learning about body parts will also help you with your body language, which can be a handful in some situations.
Body Parts In Chinese
The Chinese language has a unique way of describing the various body parts. For instance, the Chinese word for body is 身体 (shēntǐ). n addition, learning the different body parts in Chinese can be challenging due to the complex characters and pronunciation. However, with a bit of practice and dedication, you can master them quickly.
Let’s learn more about this in the sections below!
Head/ Face 头 (Tóu)/ 脸 (Liǎn)
First, let’s explore the body parts in the head or face. The face and head are often the first things we notice when we meet someone new. We observe their striking eyes, charming smile, gorgeous hair, and other distinct features. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the vocabulary words that describe these body parts in Chinese. Below is a list of words to help you communicate effectively when discussing the head or face.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| brain | 大脑 | dà nǎo |
| cheek | 脸颊 | liǎn jiá |
| eye(s) | 眼睛 | yǎn jing |
| eyelid(s) | 眼皮 | yǎn pí |
| eyebrow/ eyebrows | 眉毛 | méi mao |
| eyelash(es) | 睫毛 | jié máo |
| ear/ears | 耳朵 | ěr duo |
| earlobe | 耳垂 | ěr chuí |
| face | 脸 | liǎn |
| forehead | 额头 | é tóu |
| head | 头 | tóu |
| hair (on head) | 头发 | tóu fa |
| nose | 鼻子 | bí zi |
| jaw | 颚 | è |
| lip(s) | 嘴唇 | zuǐ chún |
| mouth | 嘴 | zuǐ |
| tooth/teeth | 牙齿 | yá chǐ |
| tongue | 舌头 | shé tou |
| throat | 喉咙 | hóu long |
Upper Body 上半身 (Shàngbànshēn)
The next group of body parts in Chinese are those in the upper body. These words are essential to learning, especially when shopping for clothes, working out, and for medical reasons. Here are Chinese body parts that are found in the upper body.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| abdomen/belly | 肚子 | dù zi |
| arm(s) | 胳膊 | gē bo |
| armpit | 腋窝 | yèwō |
| yèwō | 背 | bèi |
| belly button | 肚脐 | dùqí |
| chest | 胸 | xiōng |
| elbow(s) | 胳膊肘 | gē bo zhǒu) |
| finger(s) | 手指 | shǒu zhǐ |
| fingernail(s) | 指甲 | zhǐ jia |
| hand(s) | 手 | shǒu |
| lung(s) | 肺 | fèi |
| neck | 脖子 | bó zi |
| stomach | 胃 | wèi |
| shoulder(s) | 肩膀 | jiān bǎng |
| torso | 躯干 | qūgàn |
| waist | 腰 | yāo |
| wrist | 手腕 | shǒuwàn |
Hands 手 (Shǒu)
Even though we have only two hands, it’s essential to know the names of each finger. This knowledge comes in handy when purchasing accessories like rings. To help you communicate effectively and improve your Chinese vocabulary, we have listed below the different parts of the hands in Chinese.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| finger | 手指 | shǒu zhǐ |
| knuckle | 指关节 | zhǐ guān jié |
| fingernail | 指甲 | zhǐjiǎ |
| thumb | 拇指 / 大拇指 | mŭzhĭ / dà mǔzhǐ |
| index finger | 食指 | shí zhĭ |
| middle finger | 中指 | zhōng zhĭ |
| ring finger | 无名指 | wú míng zhĭ |
| pinky / little finger | 小指 / 小拇指 | xiăo zhĭ / xiăo mŭ zhĭ |
| palm | 手掌 | shǒuzhǎng |
Lower Body 下半身 (Xiàbànshēn)
Now, let’s shift our focus to the lower body parts. Like the upper body, understanding the vocabulary related to the lower body is also crucial, particularly when shopping for clothes such as pants or shoes or engaging in physical activities like exercising. Therefore, it’s essential to learn the names of the different body parts in the lower body in Chinese.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| ankle(s) | 脚脖子 | jiǎo bó zi |
| buttocks | 臀部/ 屁股 | tún bù/pì gu |
| calf | 腿肚子 | tuǐdùzi |
| foot/feet | 脚 | jiǎo |
| genitals | 阴部 | yīnbù |
| heel | 脚跟 | jiǎogēn |
| hip | 腰胯 | yāo kuà |
| knee(s) | 膝盖 | xī gài |
| lower leg | 小腿 | xiǎotuǐ |
| leg/legs | 腿 | tuǐ |
| shin | 胫 | jìng |
| thigh | 大腿 | dàtuǐ |
| toe(s) | 脚趾 | jiǎo zhi |
| toenail(s) | 脚趾甲 | jiǎo zhǐ jiǎ |
Internal Organs – 脏腑 (Zàngfǔ)
After learning the different external body parts in Chinese, let us now go deeper into the internal organs like the 胃 (wèi) stomach, 大肠 (dà cháng) large intestine, 小肠 (xiǎo cháng) small intestine, 心脏 (xīn zàng) heart, 肝 (gān) liver, and more. These words are essential to learning if you’re in the medical or fitness field.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| brain | 脑 | nǎo |
| bladder | 膀胱 | pángguāng |
| gallbladder | 胆囊 | dǎnnáng |
| heart | 心脏 | xīn zàn |
| liver | 肝 | gān |
| lungs | 肺 | fèi |
| large intestine | 大肠 | dà cháng |
| small intestine | 小肠 | xiǎo cháng |
| reproductive organs | 生殖器 | shēngzhíqì |
| stomach | 胃 | wèi |
| spleen | 脾 | pí |
| spine | 脊柱 | jǐ zhù |
| skeleton | 骨架 | gǔ jià |
| urethra | 尿道 | niàodào |
General Body Parts – 身体 (Shēntǐ)
The next body parts in Chinese are the general body parts. These basic words can be essential and helpful for language learners like you, especially if you’re in the medical or fitness field.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| body | 身体 | shēn tǐ |
| skin | 皮肤 | pí fū |
| muscle | 肌肉 | jī ròu |
| bone | 骨头 | gǔtou |
| joints | 关节 | guān jié |
| veins | 脉络 | màiluò |
| hair/body | 毛 | hair máo |
Words And Phrases Related To Chinese Body Parts
After learning the different body parts, let’s widen our vocabulary and practice these words and sentences. Here are Chinese expressions related to body parts.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
| body organs | 身体器官 | shēntǐ qìguān |
| body temperature | 体温 | tǐwēn |
| body type | 体型 | tǐxíng |
| Your muscles are very big. | 你的肌肉很大 | Nǐ de jīròu hěn dà |
| You have beautiful hair. | 你的头发很漂亮 | Nǐ de tóufǎ hěn piàoliang |
| My body is much stronger these days. | 这些天我的身体更强 | Zhèxiē tiān wǒ de shēntǐ gèng qiángzhuàng |
| You have red cheeks | 你的脸颊红了 | Nǐ de liǎnjiá hóngle |
| Your blue eyes are so bright | 你的蓝眼睛好亮 | Nǐ de lán yǎnjīng hǎo liàng |
| I have such a big head! | 我的头这么大 | Wǒ de tóu zhème dà! |
| My fingernails are so long. | 我的指甲好长 | Wǒ de zhǐjiǎ hǎo zhǎng |
| My stomach is in a lot of pain. | 我的肚子很痛 | Wǒ de dùzi hěn tòng |
| Sterribleing is bad for your lungs | 吸烟对您的肺有害 | Xīyān duì nín de fèi yǒuhài |
| I broke my ankle playing football. | 我踢足球时摔断了脚踝 | Wǒ tī zúqiú shí shuāi duànle jiǎohuái |
| My feet do not fit into these shoes. | 我的脚不适合这双鞋 | Wǒ de jiǎo bù shìhé zhè shuāng xié. |
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