How to Say "beautiful" in Chinese
Learn how to say beautiful in Chinese — 漂亮 for people and things, 美丽 for deeper beauty, and all the compliment words you need to sound naturally expressive.
Quick Answer
piào liang
Tone: 4th–neutral
The Chinese word for "beautiful" is 漂亮 (piào liang).
Quick Answer
“Beautiful” in Chinese is 漂亮 (piào liang) — used for people, things, and places.
How to Pronounce 漂亮
- 漂 (piào) — 4th tone: sharp falling, like “pyow” falling down
- 亮 (liang) — neutral tone: soft and unstressed
Say it: “PYOW-lyang” — the first syllable is strong, the second trails off.
漂亮 vs 美丽: What’s the Difference?
| Word | Pinyin | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 漂亮 | piào liang | Everyday “beautiful/pretty” — for people, clothes, scenery |
| 美丽 | měi lì | More poetic/literary beauty — scenery, abstract beauty |
| 好看 | hǎo kàn | Visually pleasing — “nice-looking” (versatile) |
| 帅 | shuài | Handsome (for men) |
| 可爱 | kě ài | Cute / Adorable |
漂亮 is the everyday go-to. 美丽 sounds poetic — you’d use it describing a sunset or in writing, less in casual speech.
Complimenting Someone
你今天真漂亮！— Nǐ jīn tiān zhēn piào liang! — You look so beautiful today! 你好漂亮！— Nǐ hǎo piào liang! — You’re so pretty! 你穿这件衣服真的很好看。— Nǐ chuān zhè jiàn yī fu zhēn de hěn hǎo kàn. — You look really great in this outfit.
Complimenting Scenery
这里的风景太美了！— Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng tài měi le! — The scenery here is so beautiful! 真漂亮！— Zhēn piào liang! — So beautiful! (Works for anything)
The Response to a Compliment
Chinese culture values modesty. When complimented on your appearance:
哪里哪里。— Nǎ li nǎ li. — “Not at all / You flatter me.” (humble deflection) 没有没有，你才漂亮！— Méi yǒu méi yǒu, nǐ cái piào liang! — “No no, YOU’RE the beautiful one!”
Examples in Sentences
- 她笑起来特别漂亮。 — Tā xiào qǐ lái tè bié piào liang. — “She’s especially beautiful when she smiles.”
- 这朵花真美丽。 — Zhè duǒ huā zhēn měi lì. — “This flower is truly beautiful.”
- 你的眼睛很好看。 — Nǐ de yǎn jing hěn hǎo kàn. — “Your eyes are beautiful.”
Cultural Context
In China, appearance compliments are given directly and frequently — commenting that someone looks good, has lost weight, or is well-dressed is entirely normal and not considered intrusive. Receive these compliments with a humble deflection and a smile.
可爱 (kě ài) — “cute” — is an extremely popular compliment in Chinese social media culture. It’s used for babies, pets, people, things, situations — almost anything that provokes a fond, warm response.
Practice
Compliment three things around you right now using the right word:
- A person: 你真漂亮！
- A scene: 真美丽！
- Something cute: 好可爱！