Commenting on someone's weight or appearance
Informal Can sound rude
What it really means
Saying someone has put on or lost weight, looks tired, or has bad skin is considered rude in Britain, even when meant kindly or as concern. This surprises people from cultures where such comments show care. Safe compliments are about choices, not bodies: "I love your jacket" rather than "You've lost weight".
Chinese explanation
在英国，说别人胖了、瘦了、气色差、皮肤不好都被认为失礼，哪怕出于关心。这常让来自"评论身材＝表达关心"文化的人意外。安全的赞美对象是对方的选择而非身体："我喜欢你这件外套"，而不是"你瘦了"。
Example conversation
A: I told my classmate she'd put on weight — I meant it as concern, but she looked upset.
B: Ah, commenting on someone's weight is a real no here, even kindly. Compliment her scarf instead.
A：我跟同学说她胖了——本来是关心她，结果她看起来很难过。
B：唉，在这里评论别人的体重绝对不行，哪怕是好意。夸夸她的围巾吧。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake