squat

Compared meaning: small in height, size, or build (adjective).

比较义项：形容长度、体积或身材“矮小、短小”（形容词）。

• short

  The everyday, neutral word for below-average height or length; it says nothing about width, so a person or thing can be short and slim, unlike squat or chunky, which both add bulk.

  日常、中性的词，表示长度或身高低于平均水平；它不涉及宽度，因此人或物可以在short的同时依然纤细，这一点不同于都暗示“粗壮”的squat和chunky。

  She is short but slender, unlike her stocky brother.

  她个子short，很苗条，不像她那魁梧的哥哥。

• squat 本词

  Combines shortness with noticeable width or thickness, used for people, animals, or objects with a low, solid stance; often carries a slightly unflattering or unattractive tone.

  把“矮”和明显的“宽、粗壮”结合在一起，常用来形容人、动物或姿态低矮扎实的物体；squat往往还带一点不好看、不讨喜的语气。

  The bulldog has a squat, muscular body close to the ground.

  这只斗牛犬身材squat，肌肉发达，紧贴地面。

• compact

  Focuses on efficient use of space rather than shortness or body build; used for objects like cars, cameras, or kitchens, with a positive, practical tone, almost never describing a person's height.

  强调的是空间利用的高效，而不是矮小或体型；compact常用来形容汽车、相机、厨房等物品，带有积极、实用的语气，几乎不用来形容人的身高。

  This compact camera fits easily into a small pocket.

  这款compact相机很容易装进小口袋。

• chunky

  Describes a short, heavily built body, similar to squat but more casual and applied mainly to people or thickly cut things; it stresses bulk and solidity more than simply a lack of height.

  形容矮壮结实的体型，和squat类似，但chunky语气更随意，主要用于形容人（或切得很厚的食物）；它更强调厚实、健壮，而不只是不高。

  He's a chunky guy with broad shoulders and thick arms.

  他是个chunky的男人，肩膀宽阔，手臂粗壮。

Short, squat, compact, and chunky can all mean small in size. Short is neutral and common, just meaning below-average height. Squat and chunky both add width or bulk, with a slightly negative, casual tone. Compact stresses efficient use of space, mainly for objects, not people.

这四个词都能表示“个子矮小”或“尺寸小”，但语气和侧重点不同：short最中性、最常用；squat和chunky都强调矮壮结实，语气偏随意甚至略带贬义；compact侧重节省空间、多用于物品而非人。这里不比较squat作动词的“蹲下”义、compact作名词的“协议”义，以及short表示“简短的、无礼的、缺少的”等其他义项。