虎背熊腰

hǔbèixióngyāo

idiom

Meanings

1 a tiger's back and a bear's waist
2 a powerful, burly physique

Characters

Examples

他虎背熊腰，一看就是个练家子。

Tā hǔbèixióngyāo, yí kàn jiù shì ge liànjiāzi.

With his tiger back and bear waist, he looks like a trained fighter at a glance.

那位保镖虎背熊腰，气势十足。

Nà wèi bǎobiāo hǔbèixióngyāo, qìshì shízú.

That bodyguard has a burly physique and imposing presence.

Tips

usage

Used almost exclusively for men, suggesting martial-style strength. First attested in Yuan dynasty drama (元·无名氏《飞刀对箭》). For athletic builds that are lean rather than heavy, prefer 身强体壮 or 健壮.

Stroke Order

虎 hǔ

背 bēi

熊 xióng

腰 yāo