你很丑
Nǐ hěn chǒu
In Chinese, "you're ugly" is said as 你很丑 (Nǐ hěn chǒu).
This phrase is a direct statement used to tell someone that they are not physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "you very ugly". In Chinese, the word hěn (very) is grammatically required to link a subject to an adjective in a simple declarative sentence, even if the sense of "very" is not actually being emphasized.
Which one should you use?
你很丑 (Nǐ hěn chǒu) is a direct statement of fact. If you want to add an emotional tone of "You are too ugly", you would instead use the structure 你太丑了 (Nǐ tài chǒu le).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 你很丑, there is no verb "to be" (such as shì) used. When using an adjective to describe a state, the adverb hěn acts as the link between the subject and the adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
Nǐ hěn chǒu
Did you know?
- In some Chinese dialects, calling someone 'ugly' can actually be a term of endearment or a way to ward off bad luck for children, as believed in ancient folk customs.
- In traditional Chinese opera, certain 'ugly' roles 丑角 are actually the most popular because they provide comic relief and social commentary.
- The character 丑 (chǒu) is also the name of one of the twelve Earthly Branches used in the traditional Chinese zodiac and calendar system.
Examples in context
- “你很丑。”“你妈妈很丑。”“你妈妈的脸很丑。”"You're ugly." "Your mom is ugly." "Your mom's face is ugly."This example shows how the phrase 你很丑 can be used in a back-and-forth exchange of insults.Tatoeba #3783456 by Debbie_Linder, translation #3781373 by Ooneykcall
- 你很丑，别在这儿晃了。Nǐ hěn chǒu, bié zài zhèr huàng le.You're ugly, stop hanging around here.
- 其实你很丑。Qíshí nǐ hěn chǒu.Actually, you're ugly.
Example conversation
Two classmates are arguing in the school hallway.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你别总是盯着我看。Nǐ bié zǒng shì dīng zhe wǒ kàn.Stop staring at me all the time.
- 伟 Wei我没看你，你很丑。Wǒ méi kàn nǐ, nǐ hěn chǒu.I wasn't looking at you, you're ugly.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你真没礼貌！Nǐ zhēn méi lǐ mào!You are so rude!
- 伟 Wei随你便吧。Suí nǐ biàn ba.Whatever.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
