Correct
好看 vs 漂亮 vs 美 vs 美丽
/ hǎokàn vs piàoliang vs měi vs měilì /
Strokes
Formula
1
要……（的）好看
2
漂漂亮亮 (AABB)
Definition
好看, 漂亮, 美 and 美丽 are all Adjectives, which mean “good looking, beautiful, handsome, pretty”.
Example
好看, 漂亮, 美 and 美丽, all four words mean "having the qualities that give pleasure to the senses".
好看, 漂亮 are colloquial; 美 is both colloquial and literary; 美丽 is formal and literary. Moreover, besides the basic meaning, each has other meanings and usages.
The Basic meanings are as follows:
In examples ① and ②, all four words can be used, mainly applied to human beings, landscapes, plants, works of art, etc. As far as the style is concerned, however, there is still a difference.
The Basic meanings are as follows:
In examples ① and ②, all four words can be used, mainly applied to human beings, landscapes, plants, works of art, etc. As far as the style is concerned, however, there is still a difference.
1
Zhèrde
这儿
fēng
的
jǐngzhēn
风景
hǎo
真
kàn
好看
(
piàoliang
漂亮
)
(
měi
美
)
(
měilì
美丽
)
!
The scenery here is really beautiful.
2
Tā
她
cháng
长
de
得
hěn
很
hǎokàn
好看
(
piàoliang
漂亮
)
(
měi
美
)
(
měilì
美丽
)
。
She he is good-looking beautiful/pretty.
美丽 is since literary, it is used in written language.
Since 美 is monosyllabic, if used in examples ③ and ④, it must be preceded by 很. The other two words cannot be used.
3
Niúlángzhīnǚ
牛郎织女
de
的
gùshì
故事
shì
是
yī
一
gè
个
měilì
美丽
de
的
chuánshuō
传说
。
The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid is a moving story.
4
Qīngchūn
青春
shì
是
měilì
美丽
de
的
。
Youth is beautiful.
Though 好看 also means ”giving pleasure", it is limited to the visual sense. Therefore we cannot say 好看的乐曲, but 美的乐曲.
美丽 is literary, but one can say ⑤ 美丽动听的乐曲 melodious tune.
5
Zhè
这
shì
是
yī
一
zhī
支
hěn
很
měi
美
de
的
yuèqǔ
乐曲
。
This melody is pleasing.
6
Zhè
这
shǒu
首
shī
诗
de
的
yìjìng
意境
hěn
很
měi
美
。
The mood of the poem are beautiful.
好看 can also mean "respectable, honored ( often used with 脸上 or 脸面上)", while the three words cannot be so used.
7
Xuésheng
学生
huò
获
le
了
jiǎng
奖
,
lǎoshī
老师
liǎnshàng
脸上
yě
也
hǎokàn
好看
。
A teacher will fell honored if his students got awards.
8
Sòng
送
de
的
lǐwù
礼物
rúguǒ
如果
tài
太
qīng
轻
,
liǎnmiàn
脸面
shàng
上
bù
不
hǎokàn
好看
。
If our gift is not valuable, which will make us lose face.
要……（的）好看 means "to make one awkward".
要……（的）好看
9
Tā
他
bùhuì
不会
jiǎnghuà
讲话
,
nǐ
你
fēi
非
yào
要
tā
他
dàibiǎo
代表
dàjiā
大家
shuōhuà
说话
,
zhè
这
bú
不
shi
是
yào
要
tā
他
(
de
的
)
hǎokàn
好看
ma
嘛
!
He is poor at speech, and he will be awkward if you ask him to make a speech on your behalf of you.
10
Shuí
谁
yàoshi
要是
yào
要
tā
他
(
de
的
)
hǎokàn
好看
,
tā
他
yě
也
bùhuì
不会
ràng
让
biéren
别人
shūfu
舒服
。
If somebody makes him faceless, he will revenge on him.
漂亮 can mean "outstanding". In this meaning, it is often reduplicated into 漂漂亮亮.
漂漂亮亮 (AABB)
11
Zhè
这
jiàn
件
shì
事
tā
他
gān
干
de
得
hěn
很
piàoliang
漂亮
。
He did a good job about it.
12
Fēnggé
风格
gāo
高
,
qiúyì
球艺
hǎo
好
,
zhè
这
cháng
场
qiú
球
tāmen
他们
duì
队
tī
踢
de
得
piāopiàoliangliàng
漂漂亮亮
。
Their team won the match brilliantly by their good quality and skills.
13
Tāmen
他们
děi
得
pǔtōnghuà
普通话
shuō
说
de
得
hěn
很
piàoliang
漂亮
。
They can speech manderin fluently.
漂亮 also means "beautiful, handsome, and is applied to things beautiful to the eyes, but not to music, etc."
14
Tā
他
jīntiān
今天
dǎban
打扮
de
得
zhēn
真
piàoliang
漂亮
。
He made up and looked beautiful today.
15
Jiérì
节日
de
的
yèjǐng
夜景
,
xiǎnde
显得
shí
十
fēn
分
piàoliang
漂亮
。
The night scene of the festival is very splendid.
美 is literary as well as colloquial.
16
Kàn
看
jīngjù
京剧
,
zhēnshi
真是
yī
一
zhǒng
种
měi
美
de
的
xiǎngshòu
享受
。
It is really an enjoyment to see Peking Operas.
17
Tā
她
suǒ
所
zhuīqiú
追求
de
的
shì
是
yī
一
zhǒng
种
pǔsù
朴素
de
的
měi
美
。
What she seeks for is a plain beauty.
In spoken language, 美 can also mean "satisfactory".
18
Jīntiān
今天
wǒ
我
yīdìng
一定
yào
要
měiměi
美美
de
地
chī
吃
yī
一
dùn
顿
。
I‘d like to have a satisfactory dinner today.
19
Tāmen
他们
de
的
rìzi
日子
guò
过
de
得
hěn
很
měi
美
。
They lead a satisfactory life.