你看起来很帅
nǐ kàn qǐlai hěn shuài
The English phrase "you look handsome" is translated into Chinese as 你看起来很帅 (nǐ kàn qǐlai hěn shuài).
This is a compliment used to tell a man that he is physically attractive. While the term 帅 (shuài) primarily means handsome, it is also frequently used in a colloquial sense to mean "cool" or "awesome" regarding a person's actions or style.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 你看起来很帅 breaks down literally as 你 (you), 看起来 (look/appear), 很 (very) and 帅 (handsome).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 你看起来很帅, the word 很 (hěn) is often used as a grammatical filler before an adjective even if the speaker does not strictly mean "very".
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ kàn qǐlai hěn shuài
Did you know?
- While 帅 (shuài) now means 'handsome', it originally meant 'commander-in-chief' or 'general' of an army. To be 帅 was to possess the authoritative presence of a military leader.
- If you call a man 帅哥 (shuàigē), which literally means 'handsome brother', you are using a common polite term for any young man, even a total stranger, regardless of his actual looks.
- While 你看起来很帅 is a direct compliment, it is often met with a humble denial in Chinese culture, where the recipient might respond by disagreeing to show modesty.
Examples in context
- 陈先生，您今天看起来很帅气。Mr. Chen, you look very handsome today.
- 小明，你好帅啊！Xiaoming, you look so handsome!
- 杰克，你看起来好帅哦。Jack, you look handsome.
- 穿上这件西装，你看起来很帅。Chuān shàng zhè jiàn xīzhuāng, nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn shuài.You look handsome in this suit.
- 换了发型后，你看起来很帅。Huàn le fàxíng hòu, nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn shuài.You look handsome after changing your hairstyle.
Example conversation
Jiayi compliments Haoran's outfit before a party.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，你今天穿得真不错。Hàorán, nǐ jīntiān chuān de zhēn bùcuò.Haoran, you are dressed really well today.
- 浩然 Haoran真的吗？谢谢你。Zhēn de ma? Xièxiè nǐ.Really? Thank you.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，你看起来很帅。Shì de, nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn shuài.Yes, you look handsome.
- 浩然 Haoran你太客气了。Nǐ tài kèqì le.You are too kind.
