减肥 (jiǎnféi) literally means 'to reduce fat' — the character 减 (jiǎn) means 'to decrease' or 'to reduce', and 肥 (féi) means 'fat' or 'fatty'. Together, they form a common verb meaning 'to lose weight', especially through diet, exercise, or lifestyle changes. It is widely used in everyday conversation, health discussions, fitness contexts, and media related to wellness and body image.

This term focuses on intentional, often health-motivated weight loss — not accidental or illness-related weight loss (which would use terms like 消瘦 xiāoshòu). While it can be used neutrally, it sometimes carries social or emotional connotations, especially when discussing personal goals or societal expectations. It’s commonly paired with verbs like 想 (want to), 开始 (start to), 或 坚持 (persist in), and often appears with measures like 十斤 (10 jīn / ~5 kg) or 方法 (methods).