Difference between revisions of "Comparing "meili" and "piaoliang""
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When used as such 美丽 and 漂亮 portray different meaning:美丽 meaning elegant and 漂亮 meaning pretty or good-looking. | 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 === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | * 我 很 想 认识 那个 <em>漂亮</em> 的 <strong>女孩儿</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng rènshi nàge <em>piàoliang</em> de <strong>nǚháir</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I would love to meet that pretty girl.</span> |
− | * | + | * 这部 电影 的 主角 是 一 个 <em>美丽</em> 的 <strong>姑娘</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèbù diànyǐng de zhǔjué shì yī gè <em>měilì</em> de <strong>gūniang</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The main character in this film is a beautiful girl.</span> |
− | * | + | * 他 最 小 的 <strong>女儿</strong> 长 得 最 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuì xiǎo de <strong>nǚ’ér</strong> cháng de zuì <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">His youngest daughter is the prettiest.</span> |
+ | * 我 <strong>妈妈</strong> 年轻 时 也 是 一 个 <em>美丽</em> 的 女人。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>māma</strong> niánqīng shí yě shì yī gè <em>měilì</em> de nǚrén.</span><span class="trans">My mother was also a beautiful woman when she was young.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | == Use 美丽 and 漂亮 to describe | + | == Use 美丽 and 漂亮 to describe scenery == |
While both words can be used, 美丽 is used in formal settings, while 漂亮 is used in informal settings. | While both words can be used, 美丽 is used in formal settings, while 漂亮 is used in informal settings. | ||
− | + | === Example Sentences === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | * 这里 的 <strong>风景</strong> 特别 <em>美丽</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de <strong>fēngjǐng</strong> tèbié <em>měilì</em>.</span><span class="trans">The scenery is particularly beautiful. |
− | * | + | * 海南 夏天 的 <strong>风景</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Hǎinán xiàtiān de <strong>fēngjǐng</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">The summer scenery in Hainan is beautiful.</span> |
− | * | + | * 上海 的 <strong>夜景</strong> 比 北京 的 夜景 更 <em>美丽</em>。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de <strong>yèjǐng</strong> bǐ Běijīng de yèjǐng gèng <em>měilì</em>.</span><span class="trans">The night skyline of Shanghai is even more beautiful than the night skyline of Beijing.</span> |
+ | * 他 住 在 湖边,听说 那里 的 <strong>景色</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài húbiān, tīngshuō nàli de <strong>jǐngsè</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">He lives by the lake and I hear it's beautiful.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Common Phrases === | === Common Phrases === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note that for these phrases, 漂亮 is not always modifying a noun. It can also modify a verb as a [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement complement]. This makes sense, since we're describing actions here. | ||
<div class="liju dapei"> | <div class="liju dapei"> | ||
− | + | * 漂亮 的 动作<span class="pinyin">piàoliang de dòngzuò</span><span class="trans">graceful movements</span> | |
− | * | + | * 漂亮 的 话<span class="pinyin">piàoliang de huà</span><span class="trans">beautiful words</span> |
− | * | + | * 说 得 很 漂亮<span class="pinyin">shuō de hěn piàoliang</span><span class="trans">beautifully spoken</span> |
− | * | + | * 写 得 很 漂亮<span class="pinyin">xiě de hěn piàoliang</span><span class="trans">beautifully written</span> |
− | * | + | * 办 得 很 漂亮<span class="pinyin">bàn de hěn piàoliang</span><span class="trans">nicely done</span> |
− | * | + | * 篮球 打 得 很 漂亮<span class="pinyin">lánqiú dǎ de hěn piàoliang</span><span class="trans">to play basketball skillfully</span> |
− | * | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | * 这 真 是 一 个 <em>漂亮</em> 的 <strong>动作</strong> ,你 可以 再 做 一 次 吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhēnshi yī gè <em>piàoliang</em> de <strong>dòngzuò</strong>, nǐ kěyǐ zài zuò yī cì ma?</span><span class="trans">That was a beautiful move. Can you do it again?</span> |
− | * | + | * <em>漂亮</em> 的 <strong>话</strong> 谁 都 可以 说,但是 真正 可以 把 工作 做 好 的 人 却 很 少。<span class="pinyin"><em>piàoliang</em> de <strong>huà</strong> shéi dōu kěyǐ shuō, dànshì zhēnzhèng kěyǐ bǎ gōngzuò zuòhǎo de rén què hěn shǎo.</span><span class="trans">Anyone can say some nice words, but very few people can actually get the job done.</span> |
− | * | + | * 他 每次 说话 都 <strong>说 得</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>,但是 他 的 工作 做 得 不 好。<span class="pinyin">Tā měicì shuōhuà dōu <strong>shuō de</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>, dànshì tā de gōngzuò zuò de bù hǎo.</span><span class="trans">He talks a good game every time he speaks, but he doesn't do his job well.</span> |
− | * | + | * 你 写字 <strong>写 得</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>,可以 教 我 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiězì <strong>xiě de</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>, kěyǐ jiāo wǒ ma?</span><span class="trans">You write beautifully. Can you teach me?</span> |
− | * | + | * 这件 事情 你 <strong>办 得</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>,老板 一定 会 给 你 发 奖金 的。<span class="pinyin">Zhèjiàn shìqing nǐ <strong>bàn de</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>, lǎobǎn yīdìng huì gěi nǐ fā jiǎngjīn de.</span><span class="trans">You've done a great job on this one, and the boss will definitely give you a bonus.</span> |
− | * | + | * 小王 打 篮球 <strong>打 得</strong> 很 <em>漂亮</em>,大家 都 喜欢 和 他 一起 玩。<span class="pinyin">XiǎoWáng dǎ lánqiú <strong>dǎ de</strong> hěn <em>piàoliang</em>, dàjiā dōu xǐhuan hé tā yīqǐ wán.</span><span class="trans">Xiao Wang plays basketball really well, and everyone likes to play with him.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju dapei"> | <div class="liju dapei"> | ||
− | * | + | * 美丽 的 家乡<span class="pinyin">měilì de jiāxiāng</span><span class="trans">beautiful hometown</span> |
− | * | + | * 美丽 的 故事<span class="pinyin">měilì de gùshi</span><span class="trans">beautiful story</span> |
− | * | + | * 美丽 的 传说<span class="pinyin">měilì de chuánshuō</span><span class="trans">beautiful legend</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | * 在 我 <em>美丽</em> 的 <strong>家乡</strong> 有 很 多 苹果 树。<span class="pinyin">Zài wǒ <em>měilì</em> de <strong>jiāxiāng</strong> yǒu hěn duō píngguǒ shù.</span><span class="trans">There are many apple trees in my beautiful hometown.</span> |
− | * | + | * 这 是 我 听说 过 的 最 <em>美丽</em> 的 <strong>故事</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì wǒ tīngshuō guo de zuì <em>měilì</em> de <strong>gùshi</strong>.</span><span class="trans">It is the most beautiful story I have ever heard.</span> |
− | * | + | * 在 我 的 老家 有 一 个 <em>美丽</em> 的 <strong>传说</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zài wǒ de lǎojiā yǒu yī gè <em>měilì</em> de <strong>chuánshuō</strong>.</span><span class="trans">There is a beautiful legend in my old home town.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Websites === | === Websites === | ||
− | + | * [https://m.iask.sina.com.cn/mib/734745.html 美丽与漂亮有何区别?] | |
− | https://m.iask.sina.com.cn/mib/734745.html |
Latest revision as of 07:05, 6 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.).
美丽 (měilì) | 漂亮 (piàoliang) | |
---|---|---|
Meaning | beautiful, elegant | pretty, good-looking |
Part of Speech | adjective | adjective |
Formality | formal | informal |
Contents
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 。I would love to meet that pretty girl.
- 这部 电影 的 主角 是 一 个 美丽 的 姑娘 。The main character in this film is a beautiful girl.
- 他 最 小 的 女儿 长 得 最 漂亮。His youngest daughter is the prettiest.
- 我 妈妈 年轻 时 也 是 一 个 美丽 的 女人。My mother was also a beautiful woman when she was young.
Use 美丽 and 漂亮 to describe 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。The scenery is particularly beautiful.
- 海南 夏天 的 风景 很 漂亮。The summer scenery in Hainan is beautiful.
- 上海 的 夜景 比 北京 的 夜景 更 美丽。The night skyline of Shanghai is even more beautiful than the night skyline of Beijing.
- 他 住 在 湖边,听说 那里 的 景色 很 漂亮。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
Note that for these phrases, 漂亮 is not always modifying a noun. It can also modify a verb as a complement. This makes sense, since we're describing actions here.
- 漂亮 的 动作graceful movements
- 漂亮 的 话beautiful words
- 说 得 很 漂亮beautifully spoken
- 写 得 很 漂亮beautifully written
- 办 得 很 漂亮nicely done
- 篮球 打 得 很 漂亮to play basketball skillfully
Example Sentences
- 这 真 是 一 个 漂亮 的 动作 ,你 可以 再 做 一 次 吗?That was a beautiful move. Can you do it again?
- 漂亮 的 话 谁 都 可以 说,但是 真正 可以 把 工作 做 好 的 人 却 很 少。Anyone can say some nice words, but very few people can actually get the job done.
- 他 每次 说话 都 说 得 很 漂亮,但是 他 的 工作 做 得 不 好。He talks a good game every time he speaks, but he doesn't do his job well.
- 你 写字 写 得 很 漂亮,可以 教 我 吗?You write beautifully. Can you teach me?
- 这件 事情 你 办 得 很 漂亮,老板 一定 会 给 你 发 奖金 的。You've done a great job on this one, and the boss will definitely give you a bonus.
- 小王 打 篮球 打 得 很 漂亮,大家 都 喜欢 和 他 一起 玩。Xiao Wang plays basketball really well, and everyone likes to play with him.
Use 美丽 to say “beautiful” in terms of abstract thoughts or ideas
Common Phrases
- 美丽 的 家乡beautiful hometown
- 美丽 的 故事beautiful story
- 美丽 的 传说beautiful legend
Example Sentences
- 在 我 美丽 的 家乡 有 很 多 苹果 树。There are many apple trees in my beautiful hometown.
- 这 是 我 听说 过 的 最 美丽 的 故事 。It is the most beautiful story I have ever heard.
- 在 我 的 老家 有 一 个 美丽 的 传说 。There is a beautiful legend in my old home town.