美丽
měilì
Beautiful · trad. 美麗
美丽 (měilì) is a common and versatile word for 'beautiful' in Mandarin Chinese. It can describe scenery, art, or a general sense of beauty, often implying a deeper or more poetic kind of beauty.
What does 美丽 (měilì) mean?
美丽 (měilì) means “beautiful” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “beautiful splendid.”
When to use it
Neutral. While 美丽 is widely used, 漂亮 (piàoliang) is often preferred for describing people's appearance or everyday objects as 'pretty' or 'good-looking.' 好看 (hǎokàn) is even more general and can mean 'good-looking' for people or things, or 'good to watch/read' for movies/books. For 'handsome' (for men), use 帅 (shuài).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “MAY-lee.” The first syllable, 美, is a third tone (dipping then rising). The second syllable, 丽, is a fourth tone (falling sharply).
Other ways to say it
- 漂亮piàoliangpretty, beautiful (often for people, clothes, objects)
- 好看hǎokàngood-looking (broader, can be for people, things, or even movies/books)
- 帅shuàihandsome (for men)
Examples
这风景真美丽！
zhè fēngjǐng zhēn měilì!
This scenery is truly beautiful!
她是一个美丽的女孩。
tā shì yí ge měilì de nǚhái.
She is a beautiful girl.
多么美丽的一天啊！
duōme měilì de yì tiān a!
What a beautiful day!
Pro tip: While both 美丽 and 漂亮 mean 'beautiful,' 美丽 often conveys a more profound, artistic, or grand beauty (like a landscape or a painting), whereas 漂亮 is more commonly used for everyday 'pretty' or 'good-looking' things and people.
Related phrases
美 · Character beautiful漂亮 · Pretty太漂亮了 · So beautiful
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