Yoga & pilates in Chinese 瑜伽和普拉提
yújiā hé pǔlā tí
Yoga in Chinese is 瑜伽 (yú jiā).
Also searched for as: yoga in Chinese, pilates in Chinese, yoga class, yoga poses.
Roll out the mat: poses, breathing and core work. 15 essential yoga & pilates words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Yoga in Chinese is 瑜伽 (yú jiā) and pilates is 普拉提 (pǔ lā tí), both borrowed from the sound of the original words. Studios in Chinese cities offer group classes and pricier one-to-one sessions, and teachers give a stream of instructions about 呼吸 (hū xī, breathing), 核心 (hé xīn, your core) and 体态 (tǐ tài, posture). Learning these words helps you follow a class taught in Mandarin.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 瑜伽 | yú jiā | yoga |
| 普拉提 | pǔ lā tí | pilates |
| 瑜伽垫 | yú jiā diàn | yoga mat |
| 私教课 | sī jiào kè | one-to-one session |
| 体式 | tǐ shì | pose (yoga) |
| 下犬式 | xià quǎn shì | downward dog |
| 平板支撑 | píng bǎn zhī chēng | plank |
| 呼吸 | hū xī | to breathe; breathing |
| 核心 | hé xīn | core (muscles) |
| 柔韧性 | róu rèn xìng | flexibility |
| 劈叉 | pǐ chà | to do the splits |
| 体态 | tǐ tài | posture |
| 放松 | fàng sōng | to relax |
| 冥想 | míng xiǎng | to meditate; meditation |
| 拉伤 | lā shāng | to strain (a muscle) |
Usage tips
- Pose names usually end in 式 (shì), 'form' or 'style': 下犬式 (xià quǎn shì) is downward dog, and 体式 (tǐ shì) is the general word for a yoga pose.
- A class is 课 (kè): 上瑜伽课 (shàng yú jiā kè) is to go to a yoga class, and 私教课 (sī jiào kè) is a one-to-one session with a personal instructor.
- Teachers often say 别憋气 (bié biē qì), don't hold your breath, and 别耸肩 (bié sǒng jiān), don't hunch your shoulders, so these are worth recognising.
Common mistakes
- Reading 伽 in 瑜伽 as gā, as in 伽马 (gā mǎ, gamma) → in yoga it's jiā: 瑜伽 (yú jiā).
- Using 柔软 (róu ruǎn) for flexibility → 柔软 means soft, like a cushion; flexibility is 柔韧性 (róu rèn xìng).
Mini dialogue
- A你今天也去上瑜伽课吗？Nǐ jīn tiān yě qù shàng yú jiā kè ma?Are you going to yoga class today too?
- B不去，今天我上普拉提私教课。Bù qù, jīn tiān wǒ shàng pǔ lā tí sī jiào kè.No, I've got a one-to-one pilates session today.
- A普拉提累吗？Pǔ lā tí lèi ma?Is pilates tiring?
- B挺累的，主要练核心，对体态很有帮助。Tǐng lèi de, zhǔ yào liàn hé xīn, duì tǐ tài hěn yǒu bāng zhù.Pretty tiring. It's mainly core work, which really helps your posture.
- A我柔韧性太差了，下犬式都做不好。Wǒ róu rèn xìng tài chà le, xià quǎn shì dōu zuò bù hǎo.My flexibility is terrible, I can't even do downward dog properly.
Example sentences
- 我每周上两次瑜伽课。I do two yoga classes a week.
- 普拉提对核心很有帮助。Pilates is great for your core.
- 别忘了带瑜伽垫。Don't forget your yoga mat.
- 普拉提私教课有点儿贵。One-to-one pilates sessions are a bit pricey.
- 这个体式我做不了。I can't do this pose.
- 下犬式的时候脚跟往下压。In downward dog, press your heels down.
- 我平板支撑只能坚持一分钟。I can only hold a plank for a minute.
- 注意呼吸，别憋气。Focus on your breathing, don't hold your breath.
- 练核心可以保护腰。Working your core protects your lower back.
- 我的柔韧性特别差。My flexibility is terrible.
- 我练了半年才会劈叉。It took me six months to be able to do the splits.
- 普拉提可以改善体态。Pilates can improve your posture.
- 把肩膀放松，别耸肩。Relax your shoulders, don't hunch them up.
- 最后我们冥想五分钟。We'll finish with five minutes of meditation.
- 别勉强，小心拉伤。Don't force it, careful not to pull something.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Yoga & pilates speaking island has 8 everyday questions about yoga & pilates to prepare your own answers to.