Difference between revisions of "Comparing "meili" and "piaoliang""

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* 这里 的 风景 特别 <em>美丽</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng tèbié <em>měilì</em>.</span><span class="trans">The scenery is particularly beautiful.
 
* 这里 的 风景 特别 <em>美丽</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng tèbié <em>měilì</em>.</span><span class="trans">The scenery is particularly beautiful.
 
* 海南 夏天 的 风景 很 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Hǎinán xiàtiān de fēngjǐng hěn  <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">The summer landscape in Hainan is beautiful.</span>
 
* 海南 夏天 的 风景 很 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Hǎinán xiàtiān de fēngjǐng hěn  <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">The summer landscape in Hainan is beautiful.</span>
* 景色很~
+
* 上海 的 夜景 比 北京 的 夜景 更 <em>美丽</em>。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de yèjǐng bǐ Běijīng de yèjǐng gèng  <em>měilì</em>.</span><span class="trans">The night view of Shanghai is even more beautiful than the night view of Beijing.</span>
* 上海 的 夜景 比 北京 的 夜景 更 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de yèjǐng bǐ Běijīng de yèjǐng gèng  <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">The night view of Shanghai is even more beautiful than the night view of Beijing.</span>
+
* 他 住 在 湖边,听说 那里 的 景色 很 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài húbiān, tīngshuō nàli de jǐngsè hěn <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">He lives by the lake and I hear it's beautiful.</span>
 
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Revision as of 15:44, 5 May 2022

美丽 (měilì) and 漂亮 (piàoliang) both are adjectives that mean "beautiful." 美丽 is used in more formal contexts, whereas 漂亮 is used in informal contexts. While both words can be used interchangeably to praise a woman or girl’s physical appearance, a key difference between these two is that 美丽 is more "classically beautiful," and is also often used to describe abstract thoughts or ideas, whereas 漂亮, more like "pretty," can also be used to describe concrete actions or movements (in sports, a performance, a speech, etc.).











B1HSK2ASV4567
美丽 (měilì) 漂亮 (piàoliang)
Meaning beautiful, elegant pretty, good-looking
Part of Speech adjective adjective
Formality formal informal

Use both 美丽 and 漂亮 to praise physical appearance

When used as such 美丽 and 漂亮 portray different meaning:美丽 meaning elegant and 漂亮 meaning pretty or good-looking.

Example Sentences

  • 我 很 想 认识 那个 漂亮 的 女孩儿。Wǒ hěn xiǎng rènshi nàge piàoliang de nǚháir.I would love to meet that beautiful girl.
  • 这部 电影 的 主角 是 一 个 美丽 的 姑娘。Zhèbù diànyǐng de zhǔjué shì yī gè měilì de gūniang.The main character in this film is a beautiful girl.
  • 他 最 小 的 女儿 长 得 最 漂亮Tā zuì xiǎo de nǚ’ér cháng de zuì piàoliang.His youngest daughter is the prettiest looking.

Use 美丽 and 漂亮 to describe natural scenery

While both words can be used, 美丽 is used in formal settings, while 漂亮 is used in informal settings.

Example Sentences

  • 这里 的 风景 特别 美丽Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng tèbié měilì.The scenery is particularly beautiful.
  • 海南 夏天 的 风景 很 漂亮Hǎinán xiàtiān de fēngjǐng hěn piàoliang.The summer landscape in Hainan is beautiful.
  • 上海 的 夜景 比 北京 的 夜景 更 美丽Shànghǎi de yèjǐng bǐ Běijīng de yèjǐng gèng měilì.The night view of Shanghai is even more beautiful than the night view of Beijing.
  • 他 住 在 湖边,听说 那里 的 景色 很 漂亮Tā zhù zài húbiān, tīngshuō nàli de jǐngsè hěn piàoliang.He lives by the lake and I hear it's beautiful.

Use 漂亮 To say “beautiful” in terms of concrete actions or movements

Common Phrases

  • 漂亮 的 动作piàoliang de dòngzuòbeautiful gestures
  • 漂亮 的 话piàoliang de huàbeautiful words
  • 说 得 很 漂亮shuō de hěn piàoliangbeautifully spoken
  • 写 得 很 漂亮xiě de hěn piàoliangbeautifully written
  • 办 得 很 漂亮bàn de hěn piàoliangnice job
  • 篮球 打 得 很 漂亮lánqiú dǎ de hěn piàoliangto play good basketball

Example Sentences

  • 漂亮的动作
  • 漂亮的话
  • 说得很漂亮
  • 写得很漂亮
  • 办得很漂亮
  • 篮球打得很漂亮

Use 美丽 to say “beautiful” in terms of abstract thoughts or ideas

Common Phrases

  • 美丽 的 传说měilì de chuánshuōa beautiful legend
  • 美丽 的 故事měilì de gùshibeautiful stories
  • 美丽 的 家乡měilì de jiāxiāngbeautiful hometown

Example Sentences

  • 的传说
  • 的故事
  • 的家乡

Sources and further reading

Websites

美丽与漂亮有何区别? https://m.iask.sina.com.cn/mib/734745.html