'Bǎng dà yāo yuán' literally means 'broad shoulders, large waist, round (i.e., thick and sturdy)'. It describes a stocky, powerful, and robust physical build—often with emphasis on upper-body strength and a solid, rounded torso. Though it sounds neutral, it’s usually positive in traditional contexts, suggesting health, vitality, and resilience, especially when describing laborers, martial artists, or folk characters.

The phrase functions as a fixed four-character idiom (chengyu-like), not a literal description: 'yāo yuán' doesn’t mean the waist is geometrically circular but rather full and firm. It’s rarely used for slender or delicate figures, and carries cultural associations with rustic strength and grounded physicality—not obesity or excess. You’ll often see it in descriptive writing about rural life, historical novels, or character sketches emphasizing vigor and earthy authenticity.