身高

• Pinyin: shēn gāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 身 = pictograph of a person — body; 高 = pictograph of a tall building or tower — high, tall

Meaning

Height (of a person). Specifically refers to how tall a person is.

Measured in centimetres in China (e.g. 身高一米八 — 1.8 metres tall). Commonly appears on forms, in physical descriptions, and everyday conversation. Not used for buildings or mountains — those use 高度.

Examples

1. 他的身高有一米八五。 He is 1.85 metres tall.
2. 这个游乐设施要求身高一米二以上才能玩。 This ride requires a minimum height of 1.2 metres.
3. 报名表上需要填写你的身高和体重。 You need to fill in your height and weight on the registration form.

Usage Guide

Context: forms, description, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你身高多少？(How tall are you?)
• 他身高不到一米七。(He is less than 1.7 metres tall.)

Don't Say

• 这栋楼的身高是五十米 (身高 is only for people — for buildings, use 高度; say 这栋楼的高度是五十米)

Origin & History

Compound of 身 (body) and 高 (tall, high) — the tallness of one's body.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal