姿势 (zīshì) means 'posture' or 'pose'—the way a person holds their body while standing, sitting, or moving. The first character 姿 (zī) conveys 'grace,' 'bearing,' or 'appearance,' often relating to outward form or elegance; the second character 势 (shì) means 'power,' 'tendency,' or 'situation,' but here it contributes the sense of 'configuration' or 'arrangement.' Together, they emphasize the intentional or characteristic physical alignment of the body.

This word is commonly used in health, fitness, dance, martial arts, and ergonomics contexts—for example, when advising someone to correct poor sitting posture or demonstrating a yoga pose. It can refer to both natural, habitual postures and deliberately adopted ones, such as a performer’s stage pose or a patient’s recovery position. Unlike the more casual term 姿态 (zītài), which often carries figurative or attitudinal meaning ('attitude'), 姿势 is primarily physical and concrete.