你真漂亮
nǐ zhēn piào liang
You are so beautiful
你真漂亮 (nǐ zhēn piàoliang) is a common and direct way to tell someone they are beautiful in Mandarin Chinese. It expresses genuine admiration for someone's appearance.
When to use it
Generally friendly and appreciative. It's suitable for friends or someone you know well. For a slightly more neutral compliment, you can use 你很漂亮 (nǐ hěn piàoliang). If you want to express a stronger, more poetic sense of beauty, especially for women, 你好美 (nǐ hǎo měi) is often used. When speaking to an elder or someone you want to show extra respect to, you might use 您真漂亮 (nín zhēn piàoliang).
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like “nee JEN pee-OW-lee-ang.” The first syllable of 漂亮, 漂, is a first tone, and 亮 is a fourth tone.
Other ways to say it
- 你很漂亮nǐ hěn piào liangyou are beautiful (more neutral)
- 你好美nǐ hǎo měiyou are so beautiful/gorgeous (stronger, more poetic)
- 您真漂亮nín zhēn piào liangyou are truly beautiful (polite/formal)
Examples
你真漂亮，这条裙子很适合你。
nǐ zhēn piào liang ， zhè tiáo qún zǐ hěn shì hé nǐ 。
You are so beautiful, this dress suits you well.
哇，你真漂亮！
wā ， nǐ zhēn piào liang ！
Wow, you are so beautiful!
你的新发型真漂亮。
nǐ de xīn fà xíng zhēn piào liang 。
Your new hairstyle is so beautiful.
Pro tip: While 漂亮 (piàoliang) is widely used for "beautiful," especially for people, it can also describe objects. The character 真 (zhēn) means "truly" or "really," adding emphasis and sincerity to the compliment.
Related phrases
我爱你 · I love you爱 · Love我想你 · I miss you
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