<p>It is just flattering talk. Most people like being flattered. </p>

<p>Personally, I think this kind of talk only suitable for actual handsome people or people with ordinary faces. </p>

<p>If a person is truly ugly, calling him "handsome" might sound like you are mocking him.</p>

<p>A similar example :</p>

<p>You can call anyone "kind Sir" either he is really kind or just a regular folk who doesn't break the law. However, if you call an amoral person who rips babies away from their mother  "kind Sir" , you are clearly mocking him.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T20:10:09.693Z
Thanks and in that case, what words should I use?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T21:01:21.973Z
@Blaszard There's a Cantonese saying: "崩口人忌崩口碗" It is not wise to draw attention to someone's look if he is very ugly. Just call him 先生,  朋友 or even兄弟, 老兄
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T21:04:49.173Z
"崩口人忌崩口碗" http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/38547/
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T22:13:27.227Z
2018-08-15T00:11:50.487Z
2018-08-15T00:11:50.487Z
Tang Ho
<p>It's all about what kind of idiolect you want to develop based on your personality and characteristics. One's language is an indicator of his personality.</p>

<p>If you are a kind of person who is strict,  rigorous and etc, you might speak based on the fact. If you are outgoing, less-pedantic, and etc who often applies 'flattering', praising,  or positive words, you might say it for all the people who don't look like the aged.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T00:34:35.020Z
2018-08-15T00:34:35.020Z
dan
<p>In China (at least in mainland), it is common that people say 帅哥/美女 to someone to get his/her attention. Example cases:</p>

<ul>
<li>If a person wants to use an iPhone charger but someone blocks the outlet and needs attention</li>
<li>If a person asks a location to a stranger</li>
<li>If a waiter at cafes wants to get attention from a customer</li>
</ul>

<p>In these cases it is common to use 帅哥/美女, but I wonder if it is common even if the target is clearly not handsome or beautiful.</p>

<p>I feel that there is little or no connotation of "handsome" or "beautiful" when it comes to using these words as such, but in these cases is it common to use these words even to ugly people? Or is it simply that Chinese definiton of "handsome" or "beautiful" is extremely low? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T23:43:57.743Z
Nowadays it's just being polite, especially in customer services, when calling people you don't know and you want to find a proper word. Most people will know you don't mean it seriously. Similarly, ppl use 小哥哥 and 小姐姐 for people under 30 (or looks young), regardless of whether they are actually older. In online shopping, the customer service person will call you 亲 which is short for 亲爱的. It's nothing special, not personal.
Kevin. Fang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T04:16:56.823Z
it just implies that he/she is still young, at a golden age, don't think it more complicated.
Daniel Yang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T20:09:39.910Z
@Kevin.Fang I agree in the customer service which should have strong reasons to be too polite, but my questions are not in such cases (which I intentionally excluded).
Blaszard
<word-choice><word>
帅哥/美女 to get attention of someone who isn't handsome/beautiful
# 帅哥/美女 to get attention of someone who isn't handsome/beautiful

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-14)

In China (at least in mainland), it is common that people say 帅哥/美女 to someone to get his/her attention. Example cases:

* If a person wants to use an iPhone charger but someone blocks the outlet and needs attention
* If a person asks a location to a stranger
* If a waiter at cafes wants to get attention from a customer

In these cases it is common to use 帅哥/美女, but I wonder if it is common even if the target is clearly not handsome or beautiful.

I feel that there is little or no connotation of "handsome" or "beautiful" when it comes to using these words as such, but in these cases is it common to use these words even to ugly people? Or is it simply that Chinese definiton of "handsome" or "beautiful" is extremely low?

**Tags:** word-choice, word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Nowadays it's just being polite, especially in customer services, when calling people you don't know and you want to find a proper word. Most people will know you don't mean it seriously. Similarly, ppl use 小哥哥 and 小姐姐 for people under 30 (or looks young), regardless of whether they are actually older. In online shopping, the customer service person will call you 亲 which is short for 亲爱的. It's nothing special, not personal.  
> **username_2**: it just implies that he/she is still young, at a golden age, don't think it more complicated.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I agree in the customer service which should have strong reasons to be too polite, but my questions are not in such cases (which I intentionally excluded).  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-14. Score: 2

It is just flattering talk. Most people like being flattered.

Personally, I think this kind of talk only suitable for actual handsome people or people with ordinary faces.

If a person is truly ugly, calling him "handsome" might sound like you are mocking him.

A similar example :

You can call anyone "kind Sir" either he is really kind or just a regular folk who doesn't break the law. However, if you call an amoral person who rips babies away from their mother "kind Sir" , you are clearly mocking him.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks and in that case, what words should I use?  
> **username_3**: @username_0 There's a Cantonese saying: "崩口人忌崩口碗" It is not wise to draw attention to someone's look if he is very ugly. Just call him 先生,  朋友 or even兄弟, 老兄  
> **username_3**: "崩口人忌崩口碗" http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/38547/  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-08-15. Score: 0

It's all about what kind of idiolect you want to develop based on your personality and characteristics. One's language is an indicator of his personality.

If you are a kind of person who is strict, rigorous and etc, you might speak based on the fact. If you are outgoing, less-pedantic, and etc who often applies 'flattering', praising, or positive words, you might say it for all the people who don't look like the aged.


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