Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 漂亮 | piàoliang |
| 秀麗 / 秀丽 | xiùlì |
| 標緻 / 标致 | biāozhi |
| 好看 | hǎokàn |
The term is used to describe something or someone as pleasant and attractive, especially in reference to women and children. It is a versatile word that can be applied to people, clothing or inanimate objects like scenery.
Which one should you use?
While 漂亮 is a standard term used for both people and objects, 好看 is a more colloquial and versatile way to say 'pretty' or 'good-looking'. For more specific or elegant contexts, 秀麗 is a literary term typically reserved for landscapes or delicate, refined features. Additionally, 標緻 can also be used to express that something is pretty.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong and Macau, the term 靚 is frequently used to mean pretty.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 漂亮 as an adjective to describe a noun, do not use the verb 'to be' (是). Instead, use an intensifier like 很 (hěn) to mean 'very pretty'. You can also use the related word 挺 to mean 'somewhat'.
How do you pronounce it?
piàoliang
Did you know?
- The term 標緻 is a curious linguistic transplant used as a phonetic approximation for the French car brand 'Peugeot' in some historical contexts.
- The term 漂亮 can also mean 'splendid' or 'brilliantly executed' when used to describe an action or a piece of work, such as a well-played game or a clever solution.
- Using 漂亮 to describe a man is rare and can sometimes imply a feminine type of beauty rather than masculine handsomeness.
Examples in context
- 瑪麗很漂亮。Mary is very pretty.This sentence shows how to use 漂亮 to describe a person.Tatoeba #5708687 by xjjAstrus, translation #1030057 by CK
- 这面旗子很漂亮。This flag is very pretty.This sentence shows how to use 漂亮 to describe an object.Tatoeba #442119 by GlossaMatik, translation #707432 by papabear
- 你的头发很漂亮。Your hair is pretty.This sentence shows how to use 漂亮 to describe a physical feature.Tatoeba #1417546 by sadhen, translation #1130090 by cntrational
- 这个花园非常美丽。This garden is extremely beautiful.
- 这个蛋糕看起来好漂亮啊！This cake looks so pretty!
- 你今天的衣服好靓哦！Your outfit today looks so pretty!
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei and Xiaowen are looking at a photo of a little girl.
- 伟 Wei这个小女孩很漂亮。Zhège xiǎo nǚhái hěn piàoliang.This little girl is very pretty.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，她穿这件衣服真漂亮。Shì de, tā chuān zhè jiàn yīfu zhēn piàoliang.Yes, she looks really pretty in these clothes.
- 伟 Wei她的眼睛也很有神。Tā de yǎnjing yě hěn yǒu shén.Her eyes are very bright, too.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen她长得确实很漂亮。Tā zhǎng de quèshí hěn piàoliang.She really is very pretty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 標緻, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
