美女
měinǚ
Hello beautiful
美女 (měinǚ) is a common and versatile term used to address or refer to a beautiful woman or girl. It's often used to politely get a woman's attention, similar to saying "excuse me, miss" or "hello, beautiful" in English.
What does 美女 (měinǚ) mean?
美女 (měinǚ) means “hello beautiful” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “beautiful woman.”
When to use it
Casual and widely used. It can be a polite way to get a woman's attention in public, or a direct compliment. While generally friendly, context matters, and it might be seen as overly familiar by some. It's typically used alone to call someone, not followed by a greeting like 你好 (nǐ hǎo).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "MAY-nyoo." The first syllable 'měi' is a third tone, dipping and rising. The second syllable 'nǚ' is also a third tone, but when two third tones are together, the first one often changes to a rising (second) tone, so it's commonly pronounced "méi nǚ."
Other ways to say it
- 帅哥shuàigēhello handsome (for men)
- 你真漂亮nǐ zhēn piàoliangyou are really beautiful (a direct compliment, not a greeting)
Examples
美女，请问洗手间在哪里？
Měinǚ, qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎli?
Excuse me, beautiful lady, where is the restroom?
那位美女是谁？
Nàwèi měinǚ shì shuí?
Who is that beautiful woman?
你真是个美女！
Nǐ zhēnshì gè měinǚ!
You are truly a beautiful woman!
Pro tip: When two third tones meet, the first one changes to a second tone, so 美女 is often pronounced 'méi nǚ'. It's common to use 美女 alone to get someone's attention or as a compliment; adding 你好 (nǐ hǎo) after it is generally considered unnatural by native speakers.
Related phrases
你真漂亮 · You are so beautiful你很漂亮 · You are beautiful太漂亮了 · So beautiful
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