Mandarin Monday: Work Out Your Mind and Your Muscles With This Gym Vocab

It may be July already, but it's never too late to start carving that summer bod! If you do happen to find yourself near some lifting equipment in the coming months, one way to ease the pain is to drop some well-timed gym expressions. Even if you don’t look like you should be there, at least you can sound fit!

From ample praise to unabashed insults, this guide to gym-themed slang should help you wow your workout partners and distract yourself from the second-day-soreness.

Without further ado: 加油, fitness freaks!

马甲线 mǎjiǎxiàn

Meaning: A woman’s toned abdomen.
Literal translation: Corset line. 马甲 mǎjiǎ means corset, the idea being that a lady’s abs are nature’s alternative to this otherwise restrictive attire.

Don't say: "Screw getting a six-pack, I'll just buy a whalebone corset instead."
Do say: "I'm going to make this gym look like a modern-day renaissance fair."

人鱼线 rényúxiàn

Literal translation: Mermaid line.
Meaning: A man's toned abdomen i.e. a V-cut. 人鱼 rényú is Chinese for mermaid/merman. Just as a fish tapers towards its tail, the guy tapers towards his, well, you know.

Don't say: "What's that smell?"
Do say: "Give me a few more months and I'll look as fly as Derek Zoolander."

蜜桃臀 mìtáotún

Literal translation: Peach butt.
Meaning: A firm and curvaceous derriere, usually said of the ladies doing endless squats in the corner.

Don't say: "Mind the stone."
Do say: "Who needs to eat fruit when you've got an arse like this?"

小蛮腰 xiǎományāo

Literal translation: Little barbarian waist.
Meaning: A slim waist, of a woman.

Don't say: “Are you related to Attila the Hun?”
Do say: "Ogle me again and I'll rip your f**king head off."

水蛇腰 shuǐshéyāo

Literal translation: Water snake waist.
Meaning: Skinny waist, like that of a water snake, again of a woman.

Don't say: "She's may have the waist of a snake but her skin needs some work."
Do say: "I may not be poisonous but I do bite."

水桶腰 shuǐtǒng yāo

Literal translation: Water bucket waist.
Meaning: Pudgy belly (again, surprise surprise, usually referring to that of a woman).

Don't say: "Let's take a break around the water cooler."
Do say: "This belly bucket will be gone by the morning – it's all water weight anyway."

萝卜腿 luóbotuǐ

Literal translation: Turnip legs.
Meaning: Fat calves (usually derogatory and of a woman).

Don't say: “Hey girl, you gotta get back in the gym. Those legs went from carrot sticks to total turnips!”
Do say: "Is it just me or did someone just turnip the heat?"

八块腹肌 bā kuài fù jī

Literal translation: Eight-piece abdominal muscle.
Meaning: Eight pack.

Don't say: “I'm going back West where at least people are content with a six pack.”
Do say: "I'm going to have all the luck in the world with my lucky eight pack!"

蝴蝶骨 húdié gǔ

Literal translation: Butterfly bone.
Meaning: A woman with prominent shoulder blades, mimicking a butterfly's wings.

Don't say: "Damn girl, you fly!"
Do say: "Hey world, have you ever thought about not objectifying women? That could really take off!"
 

Other useful vocabulary

Equipment

杠铃 gànglíng - barbell
杠片 gāng piàn - plate
哑铃 yǎlíng - dumbbell
跑步机 pǎobù jī - treadmill

Exercises

深蹲 shēn dūn - squat
硬举 yìng jǔ - deadlift
卧推 (仰卧推举) wò tuī (yǎngwò tuījǔ) - bench press
挺举 tǐngjǔ - overhead press
引体向上 yǐn tǐ xiàngshàng - pull-up
划船 huáchuán - row
二头弯举 èr tóu wān jǔ - bicep curl

Phrases

可以帮我看一下吗？Kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yīxià ma? Could you spot me?
你还在用这个／那个吗？Nǐ hái zài yòng zhège/nàgè ma? Are you using this/that?
你还有几组？Nǐ hái yǒu jǐ zǔ? How many sets do you have left?
我快要结束了。Wǒ kuàiyào jiéshùle. I'm almost finished.
我可以加入吗？／我们可以一起用吗？Wǒ kěyǐ jiārù ma?/Wǒmen kěyǐ yīqǐ yòng ma? Can I work in? Can we use this together?
你要加入吗？Nǐ yào jiārù ma? Do you want to work in?

READ: 3 Fun and Unconventional Exercise Classes to Try in Beijing

Image: mensxp.com