身躯

• Pinyin: shēn qū
• Hanzi breakdown: 身 = pictograph of the human body; 躯 = 身 + 区 (body compartmentalized — bodily frame)

Meaning

The human body, especially in terms of its size, shape, or physical frame; one's physique or bodily form.

A literary or formal term for the physical body, often evoking its scale or dignity. Used in descriptions of heroic figures, the elderly, or moments of physical vulnerability. Less colloquial than 身体 or 身子.

Examples

1. 这位老将军虽然年迈，但仍保持着挺拔的身躯，令人肃然起敬。 Though the old general is advanced in age, he still carries himself with an upright posture that commands respect.
2. 她瘦小的身躯承受着超出想象的重量，却始终没有低头。 Her small frame bore a weight beyond imagination, yet she never bowed her head.
3. 运动员们以强健的身躯迈入赛场，赢得了观众热烈的掌声。 The athletes entered the arena with powerful physiques, earning thunderous applause from the crowd.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, description, admiration

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 他用自己单薄的身躯挡住了呼啸而来的风浪，保护了身后的孩子。(He used his slight frame to shield against the howling wind and waves, protecting the children behind him.)
• 英雄以伟岸的身躯屹立在风雨中，成为那个时代最令人铭记的形象。(The hero stood tall in the storm, his imposing physique becoming the most memorable image of that era.)

Don't Say

• 身躯不舒服 — 身躯 is not used to express illness or discomfort; use 身体 or 身子 instead

Origin & History

身 (body, self) + 躯 (torso, bodily frame)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal