你很漂亮
nǐ hěn piàoliang
The English phrase "you're beautiful" is translated into Chinese as 你很漂亮 (nǐ hěn piàoliang).
你很漂亮 is a compliment used to tell someone that they are physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (you), 很 (very) and 漂亮 (beautiful).
Which one should you use?
While 漂亮 refers to physical beauty or prettiness, using 美 would imply a more profound or aesthetic beauty. For instance, 你真美 means "You are truly beautiful" and is more intimate than 你很漂亮. Additionally, 你很迷人 means "You are charming" and 你在我身边真美 translates to "You look beautiful by my side".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the word 很 acts as a linking particle between the subject and the adjective, replacing the need for a verb like "to be".
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ hěn piàoliang
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use 是 (shì – to be) to say 你是漂亮, but in Chinese, you should use 很 instead.
Did you know?
- In China, telling someone 你很漂亮 can sometimes be met with a polite denial or a modest 'no' rather than a 'thank you'. This is a cultural preference for modesty over accepting praise directly.
- If you use the word 漂亮 to describe a person's actions or a way they solved a problem, you are saying they did it 'splendidly' or 'expertly'.
- The word 漂亮 (piàoliang) originally referred to 'bright' or 'brilliant' colors in ancient texts, rather than human features.
Examples in context
- 你很漂亮.You're beautiful.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 你很漂亮.Tatoeba #1928569 by EDOBEAR, translation #863592 by Daga007
- 你好漂亮，这个新发型真帅气You look pretty, your new hairstyle is really cool.
- 我觉得你很漂亮。Wǒ juéde nǐ hěn piàoliang.I think you are beautiful.
- 穿这件衣服，你很漂亮。Chuān zhè jiàn yīfu, nǐ hěn piàoliang.You look beautiful in this dress.
Example conversation
Haoran compliments Xiaowen on her appearance at a party.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你觉得我今天怎么样？Hào rán, nǐ juéde wǒ jīntiān zěnmeyàng?Haoran, how do I look today?
- 浩然 Haoran你很漂亮，这件裙子很适合你。Nǐ hěn piàoliang, zhè jiàn qúnzi hěn shìhé nǐ.You're beautiful, this dress suits you well.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢你的夸奖！Xièxie nǐ de kuājiǎng!Thank you for the compliment!
- 浩然 Haoran我是说实话。Wǒ shì shuō shíhuà.I'm telling the truth.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
