How to Say Beautiful in Chinese
Learn how to say beautiful in Mandarin Chinese. '漂亮' (Piàoliang) is everyday pretty; '美丽' (Měilì) is elegant beauty. Pronunciation guide + how to compliment in Chinese.
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Quick answer
To say beautiful in Mandarin Chinese, '漂亮' (Piàoliang, pyao-liang) is the everyday word for pretty/beautiful — common and versatile. '美丽' (Měilì, may-lee) means beautiful in a more elegant, refined, literary sense. For men/handsome, use '帅' (Shuài). To say 'you are beautiful,' say '你很漂亮' (Nǐ hěn piàoliang).
漂亮
/pyao-liang/ — Chinese
How to Say Beautiful in Chinese
Mandarin has an everyday word for beauty and a more elegant, literary one — plus a grammar quirk (the mysterious hěn) that every learner needs to know.
The Two Main Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | Pronunciation | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 漂亮 | Piàoliang | pyao-liang | Pretty, beautiful (everyday) |
| 美丽 | Měilì | may-lee | Beautiful, elegant (formal/literary) |
Copy the Phrase
The Chinese word for “beautiful” is 漂亮 (Piàoliang, pyao-liang) for everyday beauty — or 美丽 (Měilì) for elegant, refined beauty.
Piàoliang vs. Měilì
- 漂亮 (Piàoliang) — everyday “pretty/beautiful.” Versatile, casual-to-neutral; used for people, things, clothes, and scenery. What you’ll say most in conversation.
- 美丽 (Měilì) — more formal, elegant, literary “beautiful.” Used in writing, poetry, and for refined or profound beauty.
Rough guide: piàoliang = pretty (everyday), měilì = beautiful (elegant/formal).
The “Hěn” Rule (Important Grammar!)
To say “you are beautiful,” you say:
你很漂亮 (Nǐ hěn piàoliang)
Notice the 很 (hěn). Although it literally means “very,” in this structure it’s usually just grammatical filler — Chinese adjectives used as predicates (“you ARE beautiful”) normally need an adverb like hěn before them.
- 你很漂亮 = “You are beautiful” (not necessarily “very”)
- Saying 你漂亮 alone sounds incomplete or implies a comparison
So include 很 even for a plain “you are pretty.”
Complimenting Someone
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 你很漂亮 | Nǐ hěn piàoliang | You are beautiful/pretty |
| 你真漂亮 | Nǐ zhēn piàoliang | You’re really pretty |
| 你很美 | Nǐ hěn měi | You’re beautiful (elegant) |
| 太漂亮了 | Tài piàoliang le | So beautiful! |
Beautiful vs. Handsome
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 漂亮 | Piàoliang | Pretty, beautiful |
| 美 / 美丽 | Měi / Měilì | Beautiful (elegant) |
| 帅 | Shuài | Handsome / cool (for men) |
| 帅哥 | Shuàigē | Handsome guy |
Use 漂亮/美 for pretty/beautiful, and 帅 (shuài) for handsome.
Pronunciation Recap
- Piàoliang — “pyao-liang” (4th tone + neutral)
- Měilì — “may-lee” (3rd + 4th tone)
- Shuài — “shwye” (4th tone)
- Hěn — “hun” (3rd tone)
Describing Things
- 漂亮的衣服 (piàoliang de yīfu) — beautiful clothes
- 美丽的风景 (měilì de fēngjǐng) — beautiful scenery
- 好漂亮! (hǎo piàoliang) — so pretty!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Piàoliang and Měilì?
'漂亮' (Piàoliang) is everyday 'pretty/beautiful' — versatile, casual-to-neutral, used for people, things, clothes, scenery. '美丽' (Měilì) is more formal, elegant, and literary 'beautiful' — used in writing, poetry, and for more profound/refined beauty (often scenery or a more elegant compliment). Roughly: piàoliang = pretty (everyday), měilì = beautiful (elegant/formal). 'Piàoliang' is what you'll say most in conversation.
How do you pronounce Piàoliang?
'漂亮' (Piàoliang) is pronounced 'pyao-liang.' 'Piào' = pyao (rhymes with 'meow' with a 'p'), 4th tone (falling). 'Liang' = lyang, and the second syllable is in neutral tone (light/unstressed). So it's 'PYAO-liang' with the stress and falling tone on the first syllable. '美丽' (Měilì) is 'may-lee': 'měi' (3rd tone, dipping) + 'lì' (4th tone, falling).
How do you say 'you are beautiful' in Chinese?
'你很漂亮' (Nǐ hěn piàoliang) = you are beautiful/pretty. Note the '很' (hěn — literally 'very') is usually included even when you just mean 'you are pretty' — Chinese adjectives typically need '很' or another adverb before them in such statements. '你真漂亮' (Nǐ zhēn piàoliang) = you're really pretty. '你很美' (Nǐ hěn měi) = you're beautiful (using 美, elegant).
Why do you need 很 (hěn) to say someone is beautiful?
In Chinese, when you use an adjective as a predicate ('you ARE beautiful'), it usually needs an adverb like '很' (hěn) before it — '你很漂亮' (you are beautiful). Although '很' literally means 'very,' in this structure it's often just grammatical filler, not necessarily emphasizing 'very.' Saying '你漂亮' alone sounds incomplete or implies a comparison/contrast. So '很' is normally included even for a plain 'you are pretty.'
How do you say handsome in Chinese?
'帅' (Shuài, shwye) = handsome/cool — the standard compliment for an attractive man (4th tone). '你很帅' (Nǐ hěn shuài) = you're handsome. '帅哥' (Shuàigē) = handsome guy (also used to address/flag down a young man, like 'hey handsome'). So 漂亮/美 (piàoliang/měi) for pretty/beautiful, and 帅 (shuài) for handsome.