How to Say “脸大发腮” and “婴儿肥” in English?

The issue of having a “big face” (脸大) is so common that it trends in online searches every year. Nearly 80% of women feel that their faces look big or puffy. So how do we describe “脸大” in English?

Among all face shapes, the oval face is often considered the ideal standard — not to be translated literally as “egg face,” but rather correctly as oval face. Similarly, the other common shapes include round face, square face, and the familiar baby face — referring to a youthful, child-like, and cute appearance.

However, when we talk about the less favored “big face” or “chubby face,” we usually use the term chubby cheeks — where chubby means pleasantly plump or slightly overweight. Then comes the question: how do we say “婴儿肥”? Is it baby fat? Not quite — baby fat typically refers to extra fat on babies or overall body fat in adults. To describe a baby-like plump face, we use plump face, where plump means full and rounded — often conveying a cute or endearing impression.

Most people with big faces also go through a stage called “发腮” (stud jowl). Originally used to describe the prominent jaw muscles in male cats as a sign of sexual maturity, the term has become popular in beauty discussions. When applied to humans, however, it usually refers to the accumulation of flesh on the cheeks or enlargement of the masseter muscles (咬肌). As people age, these changes may result in a more squared, enlarged, or sagging face.

We can classify “发腮” into several types:

• 脂肪型发腮 – Fat deposition type of chubby cheeks

• 骨骼型发腮 – Bony chubby cheeks

• 下垂型发腮 – Sagging type of chubby cheeks

• 咬肌型发腮 – Enlarged Masseter (chewing muscle) type of chubby cheeks

Similarly, big face shapes can be caused by:

• 皮下脂肪型大脸 – Subcutaneous fat type

• 咬肌肥厚型大脸 – Enlarged masseter type

• 下垂型大脸 – Sagging cheeks type

• 骨骼型大脸 – Bony face shape

The facial structure is supported mainly by bone, muscle and aponeurosis (肌肉腱膜), and body fat (脂肪组织). Since bone structure is not easily altered without surgery, improvements typically focus on adjusting the muscle-aponeurosis system and fat distribution.

According to Ai Beauty Clinic, a leading London-based clinic specializing in Asian aesthetics, an enlarged masseter causing a big face can be treated with botulinum toxin, commonly known as face slimming injection (瘦脸针). For adjusting the aponeurotic layer, treatments like Ultherapy (超声刀), Thermage (热玛吉), and Thread lift (埋线提升)are recommended. If excess fat is the primary issue — like in “婴儿肥” — then Lipodissolve injection (溶脂针) may help. These treatments can also be combined depending on the individual’s facial structure and specific concerns.

Lastly, we often describe someone with “大众脸” — a very common or average-looking face — as having an average face. In contrast, someone with a “明星脸” or celebrity lookalike face might be called a dead ringer. Here, dead is used for emphasis, meaning “exact,” while ringer is a slang term from horse racing originally referring to a deceptive substitute — hence today meaning “a spitting image” or “perfect lookalike.”