Potbellied describes a person or animal with a big round stomach that sticks out in front, shaped rather like a pot. It is an adjective, and it comes before a noun most of the time: a potbellied man, a potbellied old sailor.

Potbellied這個字 describes描述的是 a person or animal一個人或動物 with a big round stomach有個又大又圓的肚子 that sticks out in front往前凸出, shaped rather like a pot形狀有點像個鍋子。It它 is是 an adjective一個形容詞, and而且 it comes before a noun大多時候放在名詞前面 most of the time: a potbellied man一個大肚男, a potbellied old sailor一個大肚子的老水手

The feeling of the word matters more than the meaning. It is not a neutral, medical description — it is a picture word, slightly rude, sometimes funny. You would use it in a story or a joke, or when describing a stranger to a friend. You would not use it to someone's face, and you would not write it in a polite report.

The feeling這個字的語感 of the word matters more than比字面意思更重要 the meaning。It它 is not a neutral, medical description不是中性的醫學描述 — it它 is是 a picture word一個很有畫面感的字, slightly rude有點不禮貌, sometimes funny有時候很好笑。You would use it你會用它 in a story or a joke在故事裡或開玩笑時, or或是 when describing a stranger to a friend跟朋友描述一個陌生人的時候。You would not use it你不會用它 to someone's face當著人家的面說, and而且 you would not write it你也不會寫 in a polite report在正式禮貌的報告裡

If you need a kind way to say it, English speakers usually go round it: 'he's put on a bit of weight', 'he's got a bit of a tummy'.

If you need a kind way to say it如果你需要委婉的說法, English speakers英語使用者 usually go round it通常會拐個彎: 'he's put on a bit of weight'「他胖了一點」, 'he's got a bit of a tummy'「他小腹有點凸」

There is one place where the word is completely neutral and even affectionate: the potbellied pig. That is a real breed from Vietnam, kept as a pet, and nobody is being unkind when they say it.

There is one place有一個地方 where the word is completely neutral and even affectionate這個字完全中性、甚至還帶點喜愛的意思: the potbellied pig就是potbellied pig(迷你豬)。That這 is是 a real breed一個真正的品種 from Vietnam來自越南, kept as a pet當寵物養, and而且 nobody is being unkind沒有人是帶惡意的 when they say it說這個字的時候

There is also the potbellied stove — an old iron stove with a fat round middle — where the word simply describes the shape.

There is also還有 the potbellied stove(potbellied stove大肚爐) — an old iron stove一種老式的鑄鐵爐 with a fat round middle中間鼓鼓圓圓的 — where在這裡 the word這個字 simply describes the shape純粹只是形容形狀

You will see both spellings: potbellied, pot-bellied. Both are fine; the hyphen is a bit more common in British writing.

You will see你會看到 both spellings兩種拼法: potbellied, pot-bellied。Both are fine兩種都可以; the hyphen那個連字號 is a bit more common比較常出現 in British writing在英式寫法裡