Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
个子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
个子gèziheightHSK 2, n, 6 strokes, rank #7283, Easy
个子gèzistatureHSK 2, n, 6 strokes, rank #7283, Easy
个子gèzibuildHSK 2, n, 6 strokes, rank #7283, Easy
个子gèzisizeHSK 2, n, 6 strokes, rank #7283, Easy
gèzi(ge4zi5)ge zi T4
  1. 1height
  2. 2stature
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

个子(個子)gèzi(ge4zi5)

个子 (gè zi) refers to a person's height or stature. It can also describe the build or size of objects, making it a versatile term in both physical and abstract contexts, such as discussing someone's physical appearance or the size of furniture.

Strokes6Frequency#7283DifficultyEasy
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, height can be associated with health and attractiveness, particularly in the context of dating and social perceptions. Many discussions about physical characteristics often include 个子.

Memory tip

Think of '个' (gè) as a person standing alone, representing 'individual' and '子' (zi) as a small child. Imagine a small child measuring their height against a door frame, helping you remember that this word relates to height and size.

Meanings of 个子

gèzi(ge4zi5)
1height
2stature
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 个子 means.

About 个子

个子Simplified
個子Traditional
6Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7283Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 个子

JasonAmy

Podcast: 个子

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 个子

Quick Contrast

高 (tall) — use 个子 when referring to height in a general sense, while 高 specifically emphasizes the quality of being tall.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; it’s pronounced with a fourth tone (个) and a neutral tone (子). Common mistakes include confusing it with '高度' (gāodù), which specifically means 'height' in a more technical sense. Use '个子' in informal contexts, while '身高' (shēngāo) is more formal.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 word, 个子 connects well with other terms about physical descriptions, such as '胖' (pàng - fat) and '瘦' (shòu - thin). Students should focus on combining it with adjectives to describe various builds.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 个子 with '身高' (shēngāo), which is more formal and specific to height. For example, saying '我的身高是175个子' is incorrect; it should be '我的身高是175厘米' (wǒ de shēngāo shì 175 límǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 个子

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 个子, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 个子 to you

Let me explain 个子 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 个子 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 个子?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 个子 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

个gèindividual
HSK 13 strokes丨
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say height in Chinese

“height” in Chinese is个子gèzi

个子 (gè zi) refers to a person's height or stature. It can also describe the build or size of objects, making it a versatile term in both physical and abstract contexts, such as discussing someone's physical appearance or the size of furniture.

When to use 个子

Be cautious with the tone; it’s pronounced with a fourth tone (个) and a neutral tone (子). Common mistakes include confusing it with '高度' (gāodù), which specifically means 'height' in a more technical sense. Use '个子' in informal contexts, while '身高' (shēngāo) is more formal.

个子 or something close to it

高 (tall) — use 个子 when referring to height in a general sense, while 高 specifically emphasizes the quality of being tall.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 个子 with '身高' (shēngāo), which is more formal and specific to height. For example, saying '我的身高是175个子' is incorrect; it should be '我的身高是175厘米' (wǒ de shēngāo shì 175 límǐ).

Write 个子

个
子

Practice writing 个子 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 个子

个子 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

那个女孩儿高高的____,大大的眼睛,非常漂亮。

That girl has a tall figure and big eyes — very beautiful.

Example sentences for 个子 (18)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他勉强能看到柜台后面的小个子男人。

tā miǎnqiǎng néng kàndào guìtái hòumiàn de xiǎo gèzi nánrén。

He could just about see the little man behind the counter.
2
他是个脸部轮廓分明、皱纹明显的矮个子男人。

tā shì gè liǎn bù lúnkuò fēnmíng、 zhòuwén míngxiǎn de ǎi gèzi nánrén。

He's a very small man with a lined, craggy face.
3
贝丝因比她的两个朋友个子都矮而感到很不自在。

bèi sī yīn bǐ tā de liǎng gè péngyou gèzi dōu ǎi ér gǎndào hěn bù zìzai。

Bess was self-conscious about being shorter than her two friends.
4
他是个瘦高个子,一头铁灰色头发。

tā shì gè shòu gāo gèzi, yìtóu tiě huīsè tóufa。

He was a tall, lanky man with iron-grey hair.
5
梅利莎是个丰满的高个子金发美女。

méi lì shā shì gè fēngmǎn de gāo gèzi jīn fā měinǚ。

Melissa was a tall, buxom blonde.
6
他个子小,看上去不事张扬。

tā gèzi xiǎo, kànshangqu bù shì zhāngyáng。

He was a small and to all appearances an unassuming man.
7
小个子男人脏乎乎的短裤口袋里鼓鼓的,伸出来个什么东西。

xiǎo gèzi nánrén zāng hū hū de duǎnkù kǒudai lǐ gǔ gǔ de, shēn chūlái gè shénme dōngxi。

Something was sticking from the pocket of the little man's grimy shorts.
8
他个子很高,衣着朴素。

tā gèzi hěn gāo, yī zhe pǔsù。

He was very tall and plainly dressed.
9
个子高会使你感觉极其自信。

gèzi gāo huì shǐ nǐ gǎnjué jíqí zìxìn。

Being tall can make you feel incredibly self-confident.
10
她因自己个子高而困窘。

tā yīn zìjǐ gèzi gāo ér kùn jiǒng。

She's embarrassed about her height.
11
他个子很高,是篮球队的主力。

Tā gèzi hěn gāo, shì lánqiú duì de zhǔlì.

His height is tall, and he is the main player of the basketball team.
12
她的个子不高,但跑得很快。

Tā de gèzi bù gāo, dàn pǎo de hěn kuài.

Her height is not tall, but she runs very fast.
13
我弟弟的个子比我高。

Wǒ dìdi de gèzi bǐ wǒ gāo.

My younger brother's height is taller than mine.
14
个子高的人常常需要买大号的衣服。

Gèzi gāo de rén chángcháng xūyào mǎi dàhào de yīfu.

People with tall height often need to buy large-sized clothes.
15
他个子很高,是篮球队的主力。

Tā gèzi hěn gāo, shì lánqiú duì de zhǔlì.

His height is tall, and he is the main player of the basketball team.
16
她的个子不高,但跑得很快。

Tā de gèzi bù gāo, dàn pǎo de hěn kuài.

Her height is not tall, but she runs very fast.
17
我弟弟的个子比我高。

Wǒ dìdi de gèzi bǐ wǒ gāo.

My younger brother's height is taller than mine.
18
个子高的人常常需要买大号的衣服。

Gèzi gāo de rén chángcháng xūyào mǎi dàhào de yīfu.

People with tall height often need to buy large-sized clothes.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 个子?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 个子

You can say, '他的个子很高' (tā de gè zi hěn gāo), meaning 'He is very tall.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 个子?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab