Chinese Gym Vocabulary: 100 Essential Words and Phrases for the Gym

Key takeaways

• Chinese gym vocabulary covers the full experience: checking in, using equipment, communicating with trainers, tracking progress, and discussing nutrition.
• Many gym terms in China use transliterated English loanwords alongside traditional Chinese descriptions, so learning both forms is useful.
• Gym culture in China is growing rapidly, and gyms in major cities are fully modern; knowing the vocabulary makes the experience much smoother for learners living or traveling in China.
• Measure words (量词) matter when talking about sets and reps: 组 (zǔ) for sets, 次 (cì) for repetitions, 个 (gè) as a general counter.

You can follow an exercise routine by counting reps silently in any language. The moment a trainer gives instructions, a member asks which machine is free, or the gym app prompts you to log your sets, the Chinese vocabulary becomes essential.

italki connects learners with Chinese teachers who can build fitness-themed conversation practice into your lessons so gym vocabulary becomes second nature rather than something you look up mid-workout.

This guide covers 100+ Chinese gym vocabulary words and phrases organized by category: the gym space and check-in, equipment, workout types, muscle groups, exercise instructions, trainer conversations, progress and goals, and nutrition terms.

The gym space and check-in

Chinese	Pinyin	English
健身房	jiànshēnfáng	gym / fitness center
会员	huìyuán	member
会员卡	huìyuán kǎ	membership card
前台	qiántái	front desk / reception
储物柜	chǔwù guì	locker
更衣室	gēngyī shì	changing room
淋浴	línyù	shower
镜子	jìngzi	mirror
瑜伽室	yújiā shì	yoga studio
有氧区	yǒuyǎng qū	cardio area
力量区	lìliàng qū	weights area / strength area
游泳池	yóuyǒng chí	swimming pool
饮水机	yǐnshuǐ jī	water dispenser
毛巾	máojīn	towel
运动垫	yùndòng diàn	exercise mat

A Chinese language tutor can run a gym check-in simulation with you: practicing signing in at the front desk, asking for a locker, and confirming membership details in Chinese.

Gym equipment

Chinese	Pinyin	English
跑步机	pǎobù jī	treadmill
椭圆机	tuǒyuán jī	elliptical machine
动感单车	dònggǎn dānchē	spin bike / cycling bike
划船机	huáchuán jī	rowing machine
哑铃	yǎlíng	dumbbell
杠铃	gànglíng	barbell
杠铃片	gànglíng piàn	weight plate
深蹲架	shēndūn jià	squat rack
史密斯机	Shǐmìsī jī	Smith machine
拉力绳	lālì shéng	resistance band / cable
绳索机	shéngsuǒ jī	cable machine
腹肌轮	fùjī lún	ab wheel
跳绳	tiàoshéng	jump rope
药球	yào qiú	medicine ball
壶铃	hú líng	kettlebell
泡沫轴	pàomò zhóu	foam roller
拉伸带	lāshēn dài	stretching band
护腕	hù wàn	wrist wraps / wrist support
举重带	jǔzhòng dài	lifting belt

Practice naming equipment with an online Chinese teacher by pointing to photos or gym images and describing them in Chinese. This technique builds recognition speed faster than lists alone.

Workout types and training styles

Chinese	Pinyin	English
有氧运动	yǒuyǎng yùndòng	cardio / aerobic exercise
无氧运动	wúyǎng yùndòng	anaerobic exercise / strength training
力量训练	lìliàng xùnliàn	strength training
高强度间歇训练	gāo qiángdù jiànxiē xùnliàn	HIIT (high-intensity interval training)
瑜伽	yújiā	yoga
普拉提	pǔlātí	pilates
跑步	pǎobù	running
游泳	yóuyǒng	swimming
骑行	qí xíng	cycling
拳击	quánjī	boxing
拉伸	lāshēn	stretching
热身	rèshēn	warm-up
放松	fàngsōng	cool-down / relaxation
循环训练	xúnhuán xùnliàn	circuit training
功能性训练	gōngnéngxìng xùnliàn	functional training
自重训练	zì zhòng xùnliàn	bodyweight training

Muscle groups

Chinese	Pinyin	English
肌肉	jīròu	muscle
胸肌	xiōng jī	chest muscles / pectorals
背肌	bèi jī	back muscles
肩膀	jiānbǎng	shoulders
三角肌	sānjiǎo jī	deltoid (shoulder muscle)
二头肌	èr tóu jī	biceps
三头肌	sān tóu jī	triceps
腹肌	fù jī	abs / abdominal muscles
核心	héxīn	core
臀部	túnbù	glutes / buttocks
股四头肌	gǔ sìtóu jī	quadriceps
腘绳肌	guóshéng jī	hamstrings
小腿	xiǎo tuǐ	calves
腓肠肌	féicháng jī	gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
斜方肌	xiéfāng jī	trapezius
背阔肌	bèi kuò jī	latissimus dorsi (lats)

Body parts in Chinese gives you the head-to-toe vocabulary that supports muscle-group and workout descriptions.

Exercise instructions and form cues

These are phrases you will hear from trainers or workout videos in Chinese.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
组	zǔ	set (as in sets of reps)
次	cì	repetition / rep
做三组十次	zuò sān zǔ shí cì	do three sets of ten reps
保持姿势	bǎochí zīshì	hold the position
慢慢来	mànmàn lái	take it slow
深呼吸	shēn hūxī	deep breath
吸气	xī qì	inhale
呼气	hū qì	exhale
收紧核心	shōujǐn héxīn	engage your core
挺直背部	tǐngzhí bèibù	keep your back straight
膝盖不要超过脚尖	xīgài bùyào chāoguò jiǎojiān	do not let your knees go past your toes
重量太轻了	zhòngliàng tài qīng le	the weight is too light
重量太重了	zhòngliàng tài zhòng le	the weight is too heavy
换一个重量	huàn yī gè zhòngliàng	change the weight
休息一下	xiūxi yīxià	take a rest
再来一组	zàilái yī zǔ	do one more set

A private Chinese tutor can read form cues aloud and quiz you on recognizing them by ear, which is much closer to the real gym environment than studying a table silently.

Talking to a trainer or staff member

Useful phrases for communicating with gym staff or a personal trainer.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我想要一名私人教练	Wǒ xiǎng yào yī míng sīrén jiàoliàn	I would like a personal trainer
私人教练	sīrén jiàoliàn	personal trainer
这台机器怎么用？	Zhè tái jīqì zěnme yòng?	How do you use this machine?
这个位置有人吗？	Zhège wèizhi yǒu rén ma?	Is this spot taken?
我可以在你旁边训练吗？	Wǒ kěyǐ zài nǐ pángbiān xùnliàn ma?	Can I train next to you?
帮我保护一下	Bāng wǒ bǎohù yīxià	Can you spot me?
我刚开始锻炼	Wǒ gāng kāishǐ duànliàn	I just started working out
我有伤	Wǒ yǒu shāng	I have an injury
我想减脂	Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn zhī	I want to lose fat
我想增肌	Wǒ xiǎng zēng jī	I want to build muscle
我的目标是…	Wǒ de mùbiāo shì…	My goal is…
请给我制定一个计划	Qǐng gěi wǒ zhìdìng yī gè jìhuà	Please create a plan for me

Tracking progress and setting goals

Chinese	Pinyin	English
目标	mùbiāo	goal
减脂	jiǎn zhī	fat loss
增肌	zēng jī	muscle building / hypertrophy
体重	tǐzhòng	body weight
体脂率	tǐ zhī lǜ	body fat percentage
肌肉量	jīròu liàng	muscle mass
进步	jìnbù	progress
记录	jìlù	record / log
最大重量	zuìdà zhòngliàng	maximum weight (one-rep max)
有效果了	yǒu xiàoguǒ le	it is working / seeing results
坚持	jiānchí	persist / keep going
练了多久了？	Liàn le duō jiǔ le?	How long have you been training?
我锻炼了六个月了	Wǒ duànliàn le liù gè yuè le	I have been working out for six months

Nutrition and diet vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
蛋白质	dànbáizhì	protein
碳水化合物	tànshuǐ huàhéwù	carbohydrates
脂肪	zhīfáng	fat
热量	rèliàng	calories
蛋白粉	dànbái fěn	protein powder
增肌粉	zēng jī fěn	mass gainer
肌酸	jīsuān	creatine
氨基酸	ānjī suān	amino acids
维生素	wéishēngsù	vitamins
补剂	bǔ jì	supplement
健康饮食	jiànkāng yǐnshí	healthy diet / eating healthy
高蛋白	gāo dànbái	high protein
低碳水	dī tànshuǐ	low carb
卡路里赤字	kǎlùlǐ chìzì	calorie deficit
增重期	zēngzhòng qī	bulking phase
减脂期	jiǎnzhī qī	cutting phase

Chinese numbers are essential when you log reps, weights, calories, and set counts.

Gym culture in China

Gyms in major Chinese cities are modern and well-equipped, with a growing fitness culture especially among people under 35. A few things that differ from Western gyms:

Personal training is common. Private one-on-one training (私教, sī jiào) is widely available and often sold in packages at the front desk. Many gym members work with a trainer from their first session.

Mobile payment is standard. Membership sign-ups, session bookings, and supplement purchases are typically handled through WeChat Pay or Alipay. Carrying cash is rarely necessary.

Quieter cardio floors. Chinese gym culture tends to be less loud than some Western fitness environments. Music exists but shouting and heavy equipment drops are less common.

Photo culture. Gym selfies and progress photos shared on social media (particularly WeChat Moments and Xiaohongshu) are a normal part of Chinese fitness culture.

Ready to use your Chinese gym vocabulary?

Knowing these words in a list is a start. Using them when a trainer gives you a form cue, when someone asks if the squat rack is free, or when you want to tell a colleague what your training goal is: that is the moment vocabulary becomes language.

italki has 30,000+ expert tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, including Chinese tutors who can build gym and fitness conversation into your lesson practice. Book a trial lesson and use this vocabulary in a real conversation today.

FAQ

Is it common for gym trainers in China to speak English?

In international gyms in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, some trainers may have basic English. In most local gyms and in smaller cities, interaction will be in Chinese. Having a working vocabulary for form cues, equipment names, and goal-setting phrases makes the experience significantly smoother and often leads to better training because you can communicate issues accurately.

Are the English-origin gym terms (like HIIT or Smith machine) understood in Chinese gyms?

Many gym terms are borrowed from English and used in both their English form and a Chinese transliteration. 史密斯机 (Shǐmìsī jī) for Smith machine and HIIT (pronounced in Chinese as HIIT or described as 高强度间歇训练) are recognized in gyms. Learning the Chinese descriptions as well ensures you can communicate even if the English shorthand is not recognized.

How do Chinese measure words apply to gym reps and sets?

组 (zǔ) is the measure word for sets and 次 (cì) is the measure word for repetitions. So three sets of twelve is 三组十二次 (sān zǔ shí èr cì). This structure follows the standard pattern used with Chinese measure words.