清瘦 (qīng shòu) — thin and lean; wiry

Definition

Literary word for 'thin and lean,' often with a refined, dignified tone — usually describes an older person. Stronger than plain 瘦 ('thin') and more elegant than 瘦弱 ('thin and frail').

adjective
thin and leanwiry
Easily confused

Examples

  • 清瘦。
    Tā kàn qǐ lái shí fēn qīng shòu.
    He looks very thin and lean.
  • 清瘦，。
    Suī rán tā cháng dé qīng shòu, dàn shēn tǐ hěn hǎo.
    Although she is thin and lean, her health is very good.
  • 清瘦，。
    Nà wèi lǎo xiān sheng shēn cái qīng shòu, dòng zuò què hěn mǐn jié.
    That old gentleman has a slender figure, yet his movements are very agile.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

清qīnglean
瘦shòuthin

Both 清 and 瘦 convey thinness, painting a lean, spare figure.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng清qīng
Same sound today

清 has 氵 (water) on the left and 青 on the right to show its sound.

Open 清 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nè
Sound part声符shēngfú
叟
叟sǒu瘦shòu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

瘦 is built from 疒 and 叟: 疒 gives the meaning, and 叟 gives the sound.

Open 瘦 →

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