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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to 'body' with 身子 (shēnzi)

    Description & Modification

    Explanation

    The noun 身子 (shēnzi) is a colloquial word meaning "body." It is a more casual alternative to 身体 (shēntǐ) and is commonly used in everyday spoken Chinese. For example, 他在身子听着 means "he was leaning his body forward, listening."

    Examples

    • 他累得身子都站不直了。

      Tā lèi de shēnzi dōu zhàn bù zhí le.

      He was so tired that he couldn't even stand up straight.

    • 她弯下身子捡起地上的钥匙。

      Tā wān xià shēnzi jiǎn qǐ dìshang de yàoshi.

      She bent down and picked up the keys from the ground.

    • 老人的身子一天不如一天，让人很担心。

      Lǎorén de shēnzi yī tiān bùrú yī tiān, ràng rén hěn dānxīn.

      The old man's health is getting worse day by day, which is very worrying.

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