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

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美丽 and 漂亮 both are adjectives that mean beautiful. 美丽 is used in formal settings, whereas 漂亮 is used in informal settings. While both words can be used interchangeably to praise a woman or girl’s physical appearance, when used as such they portray different meaning (美丽 meaning elegant vs. 漂亮 meaning pretty or good-looking). A key difference between these two is 美丽 is often used to describe abstract thoughts or ideas (a story, a legend, etc.), whereas 漂亮 is often used to describe concrete actions or movements (in sports, a performance, a speech, etc.).
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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.).
  
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|美丽|měilì|beautiful, elegant|adjective|formal}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|美丽|měilì|beautiful, elegant|adjective|formal}}
{{SimilarWordsCol2|漂亮|piàoliang|beautiful, pretty, good-looking|adjective|informal}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol2|漂亮|piàoliang|pretty, good-looking|adjective|informal}}
 
{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK2|ASV4567}}
 
{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK2|ASV4567}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
== To describe natural scenery that is beautiful both 美丽 and 漂亮 can be used. ==
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== To praise a woman or girl’s physical appearance both 美丽 and 漂亮 can be used ==
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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.
  
While both words can be used, 美丽 is used in formal settings, while 漂亮 is used in informal settings.
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<div class="liju">
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* ~的女孩儿
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* ~姑娘
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* 长得~
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</div>
  
=== Common Phrases ===  
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== 美丽 and 漂亮 can both be used to describe natural scenery ==
  
<div class="liju dapei">
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While both words can be used, 美丽 is used in formal settings, while 漂亮 is used in informal settings.
  
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<div class="liju">
 
* ~的风景
 
* ~的风景
 
* 风景很~
 
* 风景很~
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== To praise a woman or girl’s physical appearance both 美丽 and 漂亮 can be used ==
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== Use 漂亮 To say “beautiful” in terms of concrete actions or movements ==
 
 
When used as such 美丽 and 漂亮 portray different meaning:美丽 meaning elegant and 漂亮 meaning pretty or good-looking.
 
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===  
 
=== Common Phrases ===  
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<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
  
* ~的女孩儿
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* 漂亮的动作
* ~姑娘
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* 漂亮的话
* 长得~
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* 说得很漂亮
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* 写得很漂亮
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* 办得很漂亮
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* 篮球打得很漂亮
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “beautiful” in terms of concrete actions or movements in sports, a performance, a speech, etc. use 漂亮 ==
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=== Example Sentences ===  
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 
* 漂亮的动作
 
* 漂亮的动作
 
* 漂亮的话
 
* 漂亮的话
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “beautiful” in terms of abstract thoughts or ideas, i.e., a story, a legend, a homeland etc. use 美丽 ==
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== Use 美丽 to say “beautiful” in terms of abstract thoughts or ideas ==
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===  
 
=== Common Phrases ===  
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
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* 的传说
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* 的故事
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* 的家乡
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</div>
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=== Example Sentences ===
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 
* 的传说
 
* 的传说
 
* 的故事
 
* 的故事

Revision as of 02:12, 28 April 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

To praise a woman or girl’s physical appearance both 美丽 and 漂亮 can be used

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

  • ~的女孩儿
  • ~姑娘
  • 长得~

美丽 and 漂亮 can both be used 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.

  • ~的风景
  • 风景很~
  • 景色很~

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

Common Phrases

  • 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

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

  • 的传说
  • 的故事
  • 的家乡

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