Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 美麗 / 美丽 | měilì |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang |
| 美 | měi |
In Chinese, different words are used depending on what kind of beauty you are describing. For example, if you are describing the beauty of scenery or landscapes, the formal term 秀丽 (xiùlì) is appropriate. If you want to describe a person's beauty as dignified and elegant in a formal setting, use 端庄 (duānzhuāng). The word 漂亮 can also be used figuratively in a colloquial sense to mean 'well' or 'splendidly', such as describing an action performed skillfully.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their tone and usage: 美丽 is more formal and literary, while 漂亮 is the most common way to say 'pretty' or 'beautiful' in everyday spoken Chinese. For more abstract or poetic expressions, especially in classical contexts or compounds, use 美.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions like Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, the terms 靓 (liàng) or 靚 (liàng) are commonly used to describe someone as good-looking or attractive.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a person who is a 'beauty', the character 美 is often combined with 人 (person) to form the noun 美人.
How do you pronounce it?
měilì
Did you know?
- The character 美 is used as the shorthand for the 'United States' in the word 美国, which literally translates to 'Beautiful Country'.
- The character 美 is an ancient pictograph depicting a person wearing a decorative headdress made of feathers or ram's horns. This suggests that beauty was historically associated with ritualistic adornment.
- In Cantonese, the term 靚 is so pervasive that it is often used to describe not just people but also high-quality objects or a 'beautiful' deal.
Examples in context
- 她是一位真正的美人。She is a real beauty.This sentence is useful for describing a person as a real beauty using the form 美.Tatoeba #425569 by GlossaMatik, translation #317049 by CK
- 她長大後一定會是個美人。She will be a beauty when she grows up.This sentence is useful for describing how someone will be a beauty as they grow up using the form 美.Tatoeba #13726680 by LeviHighway, translation #315320 by CK
- 那个女孩因为长得漂亮所以很自大。That girl is arrogant because of her beauty.This sentence is useful for describing a girl's beauty using the form 漂亮.Tatoeba #4757687 by ryanwoo, translation #68250 by Lumi_alt
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beauty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 美, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
