减肥 (jiǎnféi), meaning “to lose weight,” combines the concepts of reducing and fat to accurately represent the goal of weight loss.

Here’s a breakdown of the characters:

• 减 (減 in traditional form – jiǎn): This character means “to reduce,” “to decrease,” or “to subtract.” It originally depicted a hand cutting or dividing something with a knife, symbolizing the act of reducing or taking away.

• 肥 (féi): This character means “fat,” “fertile,” or “abundant.” It originally depicted a person with a large belly, symbolizing abundance or excess, particularly in terms of body fat.

Combining these elements, 减肥 literally means “to reduce fat” or “to decrease excess weight.” This straightforwardly conveys the goal of weight loss, which involves reducing body fat and achieving a healthier weight.

The term 减肥 is used in various contexts related to weight loss and health:

• 减肥计划 (jiǎnféi jìhuà): Weight loss plan
• 减肥方法 (jiǎnféi fāngfǎ): Weight loss methods
• 成功减肥 (chénggōng jiǎnféi): To successfully lose weight

By understanding the original meaning of 减肥, we can appreciate its direct connection to the goals of reducing excess weight and improving health. It reflects the human desire to maintain a healthy body and the various methods and approaches to achieve weight loss.