Key Takeaway
Metabolism in Chinese is 新陈代谢 (xīnchén dàixiè). This four-character word literally means "new replaces old" — 新 (new) + 陈 (old) + 代 (replace) + 谢 (decline/shed). It's used both in medical/scientific contexts and in everyday health discussions about weight, exercise, and aging.
Whether you are discussing health and fitness in Chinese, reading about nutrition, or visiting a doctor in China, knowing how to say metabolism and related health vocabulary is essential. This guide covers metabolism, body systems, fitness terms, and other commonly searched lifestyle vocabulary in Chinese.
How to Say Metabolism in Chinese
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolism | 新陈代谢 | xīnchén dàixiè | General/medical |
| Basal metabolic rate | 基础代谢率 | jīchǔ dàixiè lǜ | Fitness/nutrition |
| Metabolic | 代谢的 | dàixiè de | Adjective form |
| To metabolize | 代谢 | dàixiè | Verb form |
| Metabolic rate | 代谢率 | dàixiè lǜ | How fast you burn energy |
Example Sentences
Beginner-Intermediate (HSK 3-4):
运动可以提高新陈代谢。 Yùndòng kěyǐ tígāo xīnchén dàixiè. Exercise can boost metabolism.
年纪大了，新陈代谢会变慢。 Niánjì dà le, xīnchén dàixiè huì biàn màn. As you age, your metabolism slows down.
Advanced (HSK 5-6):
基础代谢率占人体每日总能量消耗的60%到75%，是影响体重管理的最关键因素。 Jīchǔ dàixiè lǜ zhàn réntǐ měirì zǒng néngliàng xiāohào de bǎifēnzhī liùshí dào qīshíwǔ, shì yǐngxiǎng tǐzhòng guǎnlǐ de zuì guānjiàn yīnsù. Basal metabolic rate accounts for 60-75% of total daily energy expenditure and is the most critical factor in weight management.
甲状腺功能异常会严重影响人体的新陈代谢，导致体重突然增加或减少。 Jiǎzhuàngxiàn gōngnéng yìcháng huì yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng réntǐ de xīnchén dàixiè, dǎozhì tǐzhòng tūrán zēngjiā huò jiǎnshǎo. Thyroid dysfunction can severely affect the body's metabolism, causing sudden weight gain or loss.
Health and Body Vocabulary
Body Systems
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Immune system | 免疫系统 | miǎnyì xìtǒng |
| Digestive system | 消化系统 | xiāohuà xìtǒng |
| Nervous system | 神经系统 | shénjīng xìtǒng |
| Cardiovascular system | 心血管系统 | xīn xuèguǎn xìtǒng |
| Respiratory system | 呼吸系统 | hūxī xìtǒng |
| Endocrine system | 内分泌系统 | nèifēnmì xìtǒng |
Common Health Terms
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | HSK Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 卡路里 / 热量 | kǎlùlǐ / rèliàng | — / HSK 5 |
| Protein | 蛋白质 | dànbáizhì | HSK 5 |
| Fat | 脂肪 | zhīfáng | HSK 5 |
| Carbohydrates | 碳水化合物 | tànshuǐ huàhéwù | — |
| Vitamins | 维生素 | wéishēngsù | HSK 5 |
| Blood sugar | 血糖 | xuètáng | — |
| Blood pressure | 血压 | xuèyā | HSK 5 |
| Cholesterol | 胆固醇 | dǎngùchún | — |
Fitness Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise / work out | 锻炼 / 健身 | duànliàn / jiànshēn |
| Muscle | 肌肉 | jīròu |
| Lose weight | 减肥 | jiǎnféi |
| Gain weight | 增重 | zēngzhòng |
| Build muscle | 增肌 | zēngjī |
| Aerobic exercise | 有氧运动 | yǒuyǎng yùndòng |
| Strength training | 力量训练 | lìliàng xùnliàn |
| Stretch | 拉伸 | lāshēn |
| Warm up | 热身 | rèshēn |
| Cool down | 放松 | fàngsōng |
How to Say Cosplay in Chinese
Cosplay is a loanword that has been adopted into Chinese:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosplay | 角色扮演 | juésè bànyǎn | Formal: "role-playing" |
| Cosplay (casual) | cos / cosplay | — | Used directly in casual speech |
| Cosplayer | coser | — | Borrowed term, widely used |
| Cosplay (internet slang) | 扮装 | bànzhuāng | Dress up as character |
| Costume | 服装 / 戏服 | fúzhuāng / xìfú | General / theatrical |
| Wig | 假发 | jiǎfà | Common cosplay accessory |
| Props | 道具 | dàojù | Cosplay weapons, items |
| Anime convention | 漫展 | mànzhǎn | Short for 动漫展览 |
Cosplay Example Sentences
她cos了原神里的角色。 Tā cos le Yuánshén lǐ de juésè. She cosplayed a character from Genshin Impact.
这个周末有漫展，你要去吗？ Zhège zhōumò yǒu mànzhǎn, nǐ yào qù ma? There's an anime convention this weekend, are you going?
中国的cosplay社区发展得非常快，每年有上百场大型漫展。 Zhōngguó de cosplay shèqū fāzhǎn de fēicháng kuài, měi nián yǒu shàng bǎi chǎng dàxíng mànzhǎn. China's cosplay community has grown very fast, with hundreds of large conventions every year.
How to Say Facilities in Chinese
Facilities has different translations depending on what type of facility you mean:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities (general) | 设施 | shèshī | Buildings, equipment, infrastructure |
| Sports facilities | 体育设施 | tǐyù shèshī | Gyms, fields, courts |
| Public facilities | 公共设施 | gōnggòng shèshī | Libraries, parks, transit |
| Medical facilities | 医疗设施 | yīliáo shèshī | Hospitals, clinics |
| Infrastructure | 基础设施 | jīchǔ shèshī | Roads, bridges, utilities |
| Equipment | 设备 | shèbèi | Machines, tools |
| Amenities | 配套设施 | pèitào shèshī | Hotel/apartment amenities |
Facilities Example Sentences
这个小区的设施很齐全。 Zhège xiǎoqū de shèshī hěn qíquán. This residential complex has complete facilities.
学校新建了很多体育设施。 Xuéxiào xīnjiàn le hěnduō tǐyù shèshī. The school built many new sports facilities.
中国的基础设施建设在过去二十年里取得了令世界瞩目的成就。 Zhōngguó de jīchǔ shèshī jiànshè zài guòqù èrshí nián lǐ qǔdé le lìng shìjiè zhǔmù de chéngjiù. China's infrastructure development has achieved world-renowned accomplishments in the past twenty years.
Talking About Health in Chinese: Useful Phrases
我最近在减肥，每天都注意控制饮食。 Wǒ zuìjìn zài jiǎnféi, měitiān dōu zhùyì kòngzhì yǐnshí. I've been losing weight recently, watching my diet every day.
多喝水可以促进新陈代谢。 Duō hē shuǐ kěyǐ cùjìn xīnchén dàixiè. Drinking more water can promote metabolism.
医生建议我多做有氧运动。 Yīshēng jiànyì wǒ duō zuò yǒuyǎng yùndòng. The doctor recommended I do more aerobic exercise.
你的基础代谢率是多少？ Nǐ de jīchǔ dàixiè lǜ shì duōshǎo? What's your basal metabolic rate?
Practice Health Vocabulary
Health and lifestyle topics are great for intermediate Chinese conversation practice. Try a conversation on Be Chinese about fitness, diet, or daily routines — the AI will use health vocabulary appropriate to your level and help you build fluency in real-world topics.
Summary
- Metabolism = 新陈代谢 (xīnchén dàixiè), literally "new replaces old"
- Cosplay = 角色扮演 (juésè bànyǎn) formally, or just "cos/cosplay" in casual Chinese
- Facilities = 设施 (shèshī) with various compound forms for different types
- Health vocabulary is essential for HSK 5+ and real-world conversations in China
- These lifestyle terms appear frequently in Chinese media, apps, and daily life