<p>Some other words are:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>漂亮 (piàoliang)<br>
  秀丽 (xiùlì)<br>
  姣好 (jiāohǎo)<br>
  俏丽 (qiàolì)<br>
  标致 (biāozhì)<br>
  文雅 (wényǎ)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The adjectives you came about and the words above often used for females. By the way it's sometimes impolite to describe a girl as 性感。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T02:47:08.077Z
To what extent is 性感 impolite? Is it purely based upon your relationship with the other party or are there times it should not be said to say your partner
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T02:52:02.800Z
This words was invented under the influence of western countries. The traditional Chinese didn't use this word. So, if a girl is very traditional, she may don't like you to say this to her. You'd better not to say this to strangers.
maple
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T10:15:09.487Z
Can you add translations for `姣好` and `俏丽`? (I can't find these in online dictionaries)
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T23:51:18.030Z
@Cocowalla Trying to find these myself so far in my research I can tell you `姣` means cunning/pretty other usage `姣俏` pretty/handsome `姣童` Handsome boy. `俏` pretty/smart/handsome `俏丽` Beautiful or good looking.
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-30T04:35:54.427Z
@50-3 Indeed true for 性感. Just traditional culture issues. Careful!
Sibbs Gambling
CC BY-SA 4.0
2013-10-23T02:37:32.687Z
2020-04-18T00:36:47.430Z
2020-04-18T00:36:47.430Z
maple
<p>Here's an answer to a narrower version of the question, by only looking at single characters associated with good appearance. Hopefully this can help you understand what the multi-character versions mean.</p>
<p>Note that characters with a female radical tend to be used for females only.</p>
<p>Also, note that these single characters often change meaning when used in different contexts, so do not use this as a guide to mix-and-match and make your own words!</p>
<blockquote>
<p>美: beautiful</p>
<p>丽: beautiful</p>
<p>秀: elegant</p>
<p>俊: handsome</p>
<p>俏: spruce</p>
<p>媚: charming</p>
<p>娇: tender</p>
<p>娆: graceful</p>
<p>艳: gorgeous</p>
<p>雅: refined</p>
<p>致: delicate</p>
<p>华: splendid</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-30T05:38:49.800Z
I feel like example words are important (you can't mix and match _all_ of these at random).
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-31T13:28:19.517Z
I've been told that 美 cannot properly be used to describe a person's beauty.  漂亮 is the better choice, unless you are reciting, or composing poetry and you are making a metaphor.
user43633
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-30T00:54:40.403Z
2013-10-30T00:54:40.403Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
congusbongus
<p>In spoken Mandarin Chinese what adjectives can be used to complement a person's appearance?</p>

<p>I can think of a couple off the top of my head:</p>

<ul>
<li>美丽 - Měilì - Beautiful</li>
<li>可爱 - Kě'ài - Cute</li>
<li>性感 - Xìnggǎn - Sexy</li>
</ul>

<p>I've been looking around but having trouble finding any information relating to this subject</p>

<p>Assuming a pre-existing close relationship with the person you're complimenting, what compliments would be used in a informal setting?</p>

<hr>

<p>Question updated to be more concise, also declaring "pre-existing close relationship" as someone you have known for a period greater then 6 months whom you're comfortable speaking freely around</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T02:48:01.010Z
Surely there are countless ways to compliment someone on their appearance! Can you narrow down the question a bit?
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T03:48:54.540Z
@congusbongus I was scared it might be too broad, however not being a native speaker it's hard to know the scope of a question and if I said "commonly used" that would quickly become opinion based. I've narrowed it down probably as far as I can with my current knowledge of the language but if you feel it would be to broad fell free to flag the question
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T08:07:09.637Z
@50-3 It would be good if you can scope down on these factors: casual or formal, spoken or written, descriptive or appraising, and gender and age of the person to be applied.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-23T23:39:43.317Z
@NS.X. Question updated, as for Spoken or Written would the mandarin Tag not be enough to imply it's spoken or does it need to be declared in the body
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T01:29:56.667Z
@50-3 No it's not enough, spoken and written Mandarin can be very different in many cases. Also you may want to clarify whether you are in or desire a romantic relationship with that lady or you're just normal friends; Would you like the word/phrase to sound objective or convey strong personal emotion; etc.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T03:50:41.020Z
There are countless ways to compliment a person. Please narrow down the scope to a specific compliment that you are interested in.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T03:53:29.990Z
@QuestionOverflow are you indicating that unless I'm asking for a translation of a phrase my question is too broad?
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T04:00:54.117Z
No, what makes you think so?
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T04:02:22.060Z
"Please narrow down the scope to a specific compliment that you are interested in" would make me think you're suggesting I need to narrow it down to a single compliment
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T04:12:07.263Z
There are many ways to praise a person for being pretty alone. E.g, 漂亮,秀丽,俏丽,美丽 and each having a slightly different meaning. And to compliment someone for being sexy, you can have another long list of phrases and idioms. Your question is simply too broad. This is what I am saying.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-24T05:53:59.400Z
@QuestionOverflow I'm unlikely to be able to narrow it down any more as I wasn't looking for something very precise at this stage, so feel free to flag it for a mod to make a decision on
50-3
<mandarin><vocabulary>
In spoken Mandarin, what adjectives can be used to complement a person's appearance?
# In spoken Mandarin, what adjectives can be used to complement a person's appearance?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-23)

In spoken Mandarin Chinese what adjectives can be used to complement a person's appearance?

I can think of a couple off the top of my head:

* 美丽 - Měilì - Beautiful
* 可爱 - Kě'ài - Cute
* 性感 - Xìnggǎn - Sexy

I've been looking around but having trouble finding any information relating to this subject

Assuming a pre-existing close relationship with the person you're complimenting, what compliments would be used in a informal setting?

---

Question updated to be more concise, also declaring "pre-existing close relationship" as someone you have known for a period greater then 6 months whom you're comfortable speaking freely around

**Tags:** mandarin, vocabulary

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Surely there are countless ways to compliment someone on their appearance! Can you narrow down the question a bit?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I was scared it might be too broad, however not being a native speaker it's hard to know the scope of a question and if I said "commonly used" that would quickly become opinion based. I've narrowed it down probably as far as I can with my current knowledge of the language but if you feel it would be to broad fell free to flag the question  
> **username_2**: @username_0 It would be good if you can scope down on these factors: casual or formal, spoken or written, descriptive or appraising, and gender and age of the person to be applied.  
> **username_0**: @NS.X. Question updated, as for Spoken or Written would the mandarin Tag not be enough to imply it's spoken or does it need to be declared in the body  
> **username_2**: @username_0 No it's not enough, spoken and written Mandarin can be very different in many cases. Also you may want to clarify whether you are in or desire a romantic relationship with that lady or you're just normal friends; Would you like the word/phrase to sound objective or convey strong personal emotion; etc.  
> **username_3**: There are countless ways to compliment a person. Please narrow down the scope to a specific compliment that you are interested in.  
> **username_0**: @QuestionOverflow are you indicating that unless I'm asking for a translation of a phrase my question is too broad?  
> **username_3**: No, what makes you think so?  
> **username_0**: "Please narrow down the scope to a specific compliment that you are interested in" would make me think you're suggesting I need to narrow it down to a single compliment  
> **username_3**: There are many ways to praise a person for being pretty alone. E.g, 漂亮,秀丽,俏丽,美丽 and each having a slightly different meaning. And to compliment someone for being sexy, you can have another long list of phrases and idioms. Your question is simply too broad. This is what I am saying.  
> **username_0**: @QuestionOverflow I'm unlikely to be able to narrow it down any more as I wasn't looking for something very precise at this stage, so feel free to flag it for a mod to make a decision on  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-30. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Here's an answer to a narrower version of the question, by only looking at single characters associated with good appearance. Hopefully this can help you understand what the multi-character versions mean.

Note that characters with a female radical tend to be used for females only.

Also, note that these single characters often change meaning when used in different contexts, so do not use this as a guide to mix-and-match and make your own words!

> 美: beautiful
>
> 丽: beautiful
>
> 秀: elegant
>
> 俊: handsome
>
> 俏: spruce
>
> 媚: charming
>
> 娇: tender
>
> 娆: graceful
>
> 艳: gorgeous
>
> 雅: refined
>
> 致: delicate
>
> 华: splendid

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: I feel like example words are important (you can't mix and match _all_ of these at random).  
> **username_8**: I've been told that 美 cannot properly be used to describe a person's beauty.  漂亮 is the better choice, unless you are reciting, or composing poetry and you are making a metaphor.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-10-23. Score: 4

Some other words are:

> 漂亮 (piàoliang)  
> 秀丽 (xiùlì)  
> 姣好 (jiāohǎo)  
> 俏丽 (qiàolì)  
> 标致 (biāozhì)  
> 文雅 (wényǎ)

The adjectives you came about and the words above often used for females. By the way it's sometimes impolite to describe a girl as 性感。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: To what extent is 性感 impolite? Is it purely based upon your relationship with the other party or are there times it should not be said to say your partner  
> **username_4**: This words was invented under the influence of western countries. The traditional Chinese didn't use this word. So, if a girl is very traditional, she may don't like you to say this to her. You'd better not to say this to strangers.  
> **username_5**: Can you add translations for `姣好` and `俏丽`? (I can't find these in online dictionaries)  
> **username_0**: @username_5 Trying to find these myself so far in my research I can tell you `姣` means cunning/pretty other usage `姣俏` pretty/handsome `姣童` Handsome boy. `俏` pretty/smart/handsome `俏丽` Beautiful or good looking.  
> **username_6**: @username_0 Indeed true for 性感. Just traditional culture issues. Careful!  

---

