Comparing "meili" and "piaoliang"

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.).











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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.

  • ~的女孩儿
  • ~姑娘
  • 长得~

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.

  • ~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
  • 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

  • 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