胸部

• Pinyin: xiōng bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 胸 = 月 (flesh radical) + 匈 (phonetic); 部 = 咅 (phonetic) + 阝(region/division)

Meaning

Chest; the area of the body between the neck and the abdomen.

Used in medical, anatomical, and everyday contexts to refer to the chest region. In medical contexts, it may specifically refer to the thoracic area containing the heart and lungs. In everyday speech, it can also describe the front of the torso more generally.

Examples

1. 他跑步之后感到胸部有点疼，便去医院做了检查。 After running, he felt a slight pain in his chest and went to the hospital for a check-up.
2. 医生听了他的胸部，说心脏和肺部都很正常，不用担心。 The doctor listened to his chest and said his heart and lungs were both normal — nothing to worry about.
3. 这件衬衫的胸部位置有两个口袋，设计很实用。 This shirt has two pockets at the chest area — a very practical design.

Usage Guide

Context: health, medicine, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他运动后感到胸部不适，医生建议他做心电图检查。(He felt discomfort in his chest after exercising, and the doctor recommended an ECG.)
• 这件夹克的胸部设计有一个拉链口袋。(This jacket has a zip pocket at the chest.)

Don't Say

• 在正式医疗场合把胸部和心脏混用，如我的胸部跳得很快。(Don't confuse 胸部 with 心脏 in medical contexts — say 我的心脏跳得很快 to mean 'my heart is beating fast.')

Origin & History

Compound of 胸 (chest) and 部 (part/section), together meaning 'the chest area/region.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal