美丽
měi lì
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.
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piào liangpretty, beautiful (often for people, clothes, objects)
- 好看hǎo kàngood-looking (broader, can be for people, things, or even movies/books)
- 帅shuàihandsome (for men)
Examples
这风景真美丽！
zhè fēng jǐng zhēn měi lì ！
This scenery is truly beautiful!
她是一个美丽的女孩。
tā shì yí gè měi lì de nǚ hái 。
She is a beautiful girl.
多么美丽的一天啊！
duō me měi lì 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
我爱你 · I love you爱 · Love我想你 · I miss you
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