Gyms across China feel instantly familiar — you’ll find the same dumbbell racks, squat stations and bench presses you’d see anywhere else. But when you want to ask a trainer for tips, or follow a local workout plan, knowing the standard Chinese names for common lifts makes every session much smoother.

Start with these three foundational bodyweight moves, used everywhere from warm-ups to casual floor workouts. Push ups are called 俯卧撑 (fǔ wò chēng), pull ups translate to 引体向上 (yǐn tǐ xiàng shàng), and the classic core exercise sit ups go by 仰卧起坐 (yǎng wò qǐ zuò).

For free weight and strength training days, these compound lifts are the most widely used. The bench press is 卧推 (wò tuī), squats are 深蹲 (shēn dūn), and the full-body deadlift is called 硬拉 (yìng lā). For more targeted work, bicep curls are 二头弯举 (èr tóu wān jǔ) and back-focused rows are simply 划船 (huá chuán).

You won’t need long explanations or complex grammar to get by. Mention the move name, and trainers or fellow gym-goers will immediately understand what you’re working on. It’s straightforward, practical, and fits right into any workout routine.

Welcome to Actually Useful Mandarin, where we teach you the Chinese you’ll actually use.