健身 jiànshēn to exercise
to exercise; to keep fit; to work out; physical exercise
How to remember 健身: 健 strong + 身 body = to exercise.
Characters
How it is used
- Verb-object meaning "to work out, to keep fit" - 我每天健身 (wǒ měitiān jiànshēn) I work out every day; also used as a modifier, 健身运动 fitness exercise.
- Broader than 锻炼 (duànliàn, to exercise/train) - 健身 specifically implies gym-style fitness training for the body, while 锻炼 covers any physical exercise, including sports and running.
- Very common in modern urban speech alongside gym culture - 去健身房健身 to go work out at the gym.
Example sentences
- 你今天去不去健身房？ Nǐ jīntiān qùbúqù jiànshēnfáng?Are you going to the gym today?