How to Write 胖 (pán/pàng) — Meaning “Fat / Plump”

Imagine someone who ate half (半) a cow, so their belly becomes big and full of meat (⺼). This funny image of eating half an animal links the components directly to the meaning "fat" or "plump".

Write the left radical ⺼ first with a narrow vertical stroke followed by two dots — do not make it look like 月 (moon). The right part 半 starts with a horizontal stroke, then two verticals, and finishes with a long horizontal. A common mistake is making the left radical too wide or writing the right part with three vertical strokes instead of two.

All three share the meat radical ⺼, but their right sides differ: 胖 has 半 (half), 肝 has 干 (gān, dry/shield), and 肠 has 长 (cháng, long). Visually, 胖 is broader in shape, while 肝 and 肠 are narrower. In meaning, 胖 describes being plump, whereas 肝 is the liver and 肠 is the intestines — these are specific organs, not general body descriptions.

胖 is commonly used to describe people, animals, or body parts as chubby or overweight, e.g., 胖猫 (fat cat). Culturally, calling someone 胖 directly can be impolite unless you are very close; it is safer to use softer terms like 微胖 (slightly plump). The word 肥胖 (féi pàng) is more formal and used for medical or scientific contexts about obesity.

Common words containing 胖 include: 肥胖 (féi pàng) — Obesity; fat.; 心广体胖 (xīn guǎng tǐ pán) — Carefree and relaxed (often leading to putting on weight)..