虎背熊腰
虎背熊腰 (hǔ bèi xióng yāo) literally means “tiger back bear waist” and expresses “strong and robust”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: hu bei xiong yao, hu bei xiong yao,虎背熊腰 meaning, 虎背熊腰 in english
Strong and robust
Pronunciation: hǔ bèi xióng yāo Literal meaning: Tiger back bear waist
Origin & Usage
A tiger's (虎) back (背) and a bear's (熊) waist (腰). The phrase specifies build rather than height — breadth through the shoulders and thickness through the middle — and it is straightforwardly admiring in a way that English has no neat equivalent for. It comes out of Yuan drama, where it describes warriors, and it is still applied almost exclusively to men. It suggests usable physical power rather than athleticism or good looks.
Examples
English: "His robust physique and strong presence make him an imposing figure in any room"
Chinese: 他健壮的体格和强大的气场让他在任何场合都显得威风凛凛
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
背道而驰
bèi dào ér chí
Run directly counter to the aim
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望其项背
wàng qí xiàng bèi
Come close enough to rival — usually negated
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背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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谈虎色变
tán hǔ sè biàn
Turn pale at the mere mention of it
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两虎相争
liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
Fierce competition between equals
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骑虎难下
qí hǔ nán xià
Unable to stop dangerous course
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生龙活虎
shēng lóng huó hǔ
Full of energy
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狐假虎威
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Borrow authority to intimidate
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 虎背熊腰 mean in English?
虎背熊腰 (hǔ bèi xióng yāo) literally translates to “Tiger back bear waist” and is used to express “Strong and robust”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 虎背熊腰 used?
Situation: His robust physique and strong presence make him an imposing figure in any room
What is the pinyin for 虎背熊腰?
The pinyin pronunciation for 虎背熊腰 is “hǔ bèi xióng yāo”.