修长

• Pinyin: xiū cháng
• Hanzi breakdown: 修 = 亻 + 攸 + 彡 (long/refined); 长 = long/tall

Meaning

Slender and tall; elegantly elongated in form.

Used to describe a graceful, slender physique — particularly legs, fingers, or a person's figure. Carries a positive aesthetic connotation of elegance and refinement.

Examples

1. 她身材修长，举止优雅，走进大厅时立刻吸引了在场所有宾客的目光。 She was tall and slender, and her elegant manner immediately drew every guest’s attention as she entered the hall.
2. 这名舞蹈演员拥有修长的双腿和出色的柔韧性，在舞台上展现出极为优美的身姿。 This dancer has long, slender legs and excellent flexibility, showing an exceptionally graceful posture on stage.
3. 窗外的竹林挺拔修长，清风吹过时发出沙沙的声响，让人感到一阵心旷神怡。 The bamboo grove outside the window stood tall and slender; when a breeze passed through, it rustled softly and left you feeling refreshed.

Usage Guide

Context: appearance, aesthetics, nature, dance

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 她修长的手指轻轻划过琴弦，奏出一段如泣如诉的旋律，令听众无不动容。(Her slender fingers glided gently across the strings, drawing out a deeply moving melody that touched every listener.)
• 这棵白桦树形态修长，在夕阳的映照下投下修长的影子，美不胜收。(The birch tree was slenderly shaped; in the light of the setting sun it cast an elongated shadow of breathtaking beauty.)

Don't Say

• 修长的思维 — 修长 describes physical form and proportions; for broad or sophisticated thinking use 深邃 or 开阔; abstract concepts cannot be 修长

Origin & History

修 (long/well-proportioned) + 长 (long/tall) — elegantly long and well-proportioned

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal