The extended phrases to express “look pretty” in Chinese
The common expressions
漂亮 (piàoliang)
The most straightforward way to say someone looks pretty.
e.g.
A: 你今天真漂亮！ (Nǐ jīntiān zhēn piàoliang!) You look so pretty today!
B: 谢谢！ (Xièxie!) Thanks!
她穿这件衣服看起来很漂亮。(Tā chuān zhè jiàn yīfú kàn qǐlái hěn piàoliang.) She looks very pretty in this dress.
好看 (hǎokàn)
This is a casual and widely used for people or outfits. “good-looking”.
e.g.
A: 这条裙子你穿起来特别好看！ (Zhè tiáo qúnzi nǐ chuān qǐlái tèbié hǎokàn!) This dress looks really good on you!
B: 真的吗？谢谢！ (Zhēn de ma? Xièxie!) Really? Thanks!
这本书的封面很好看。(Zhè běn shū de fēngmiàn hěn hǎokàn.) The cover of this book is nice-looking.
美 (měi)
Beautiful. It’s short and poetic, often used in compliments.
e.g.
A: 你化妆后更美了！ (Nǐ huàzhuāng hòu gèng měi le!) You look even more beautiful with makeup!
B: 哈哈，你太会夸人了！ (Hāhā, nǐ tài huì kuā rén le!) Haha, you’re so good at compliments!
那个景色真美。(Nà ge jǐngsè zhēn měi.) That scenery is truly beautiful.
迷人 (mírén)
This is used to compliment someone who is not just pretty, but has an alluring or captivating charm.
e.g.
你真迷人。(Nǐ zhēn mírén.) You are truly charming.
她的眼睛很迷人。(Tā de yǎnjīng hěn mírén.) Her eyes are very captivating.
The extended phrases to express “look pretty” in Chinese
颜值爆表 (Yánzhí bàobiǎo)
“Off-the-charts looks.” Slang for someone with stunning visuals, popular among younger generations.
e.g.
A: 新来的同事颜值爆表！ (Xīn lái de tóngshì yánzhí bàobiǎo!) The new colleague is drop-dead gorgeous!
B: 真的？快指给我看！ (Zhēn de? Kuài zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn!) Really? Point them out to me!
气质出众 (qìzhì chūzhòng)
“Exceptional elegance.” Praises someone’s unique aura or grace.
e.g.
A: 她虽然不化妆，但气质出众。 (Tā suīrán bù huàzhuāng, dàn qìzhì chūzhòng.) She doesn’t wear makeup, but she has exceptional elegance.
B: 对，她有一种古典美。 (Duì, tā yǒu yī zhǒng gǔdiǎn měi.) Yeah, she has a classical beauty.
皮肤真好 (pífū zhēn hǎo)
“The skin is flawless.” Compliments someone’s complexion.
e.g.
A: 你皮肤真好，怎么保养的？ (Nǐ pífū zhēn hǎo, zěnme bǎoyǎng de?) Your skin is flawless—how do you take care of it?
B: 多喝水，少熬夜啦！ (Duō hē shuǐ, shǎo áoyè la!) Drink more water and don’t stay up late!
眼睛会说话 (yǎnjīng huì shuōhuà)
“Your eyes speak.” Romantic way to praise someone’s expressive eyes.
e.g.
A: 你的眼睛会说话，特别迷人。 (Nǐ de yǎnjīng huì shuōhuà, tèbié mírén.) Your eyes are so expressive and captivating.
B: 你这样说我会害羞的！ (Nǐ zhèyàng shuō wǒ huì hàixiū de!) You’re making me blush!
养眼 (yǎngyǎn)
“Pleasing to the eye.” Casual slang for someone who’s visually appealing.
e.g.
A: 那个模特太养眼了！ (Nàge mótài tài yǎngyǎn le!) That model is so eye-catching!
B: 是啊，看得人心情都好！ (Shì a, kàn de rén xīnqíng dōu hǎo!) Yeah, just looking at them lifts my mood!
逆天颜值 (nìtiān yánzhí)
“God-tier beauty.” Internet slang for someone unbelievably good-looking.
e.g.
A: 这个明星的颜值简直逆天！ (Zhège míngxīng de yánzhí jiǎnzhí nìtiān!) This celebrity’s looks are god-tier!
B: 是啊，天生当明星的料！ (Shì a, tiānshēng dāng míngxīng de liào!) Yeah, they were born to be a star!
The idioms to express “look pretty” in Chinese
美若天仙 (měi ruò tiānxiān)
“As beautiful as a fairy.” Exaggerated and poetic, often used humorously or in admiration.
e.g.
A: 你这身礼服简直美若天仙！ (Nǐ zhè shēn lǐfú jiǎnzhí měi ruò tiānxiān!) You look like a fairy in this gown!
B: 哪有那么夸张啦！ (Nǎ yǒu nàme kuāzhāng la!) It’s not that exaggerated!
仙女下凡 (xiānnǚ xiàfán)
“A fairy descending to earth.” Playful and dramatic, often used for someone exceptionally pretty.
e.g.
A: 你今晚是仙女下凡吗？太美了！ (Nǐ jīnwǎn shì xiānnǚ xiàfán ma? Tài měi le!) Are you a fairy descending to earth tonight? So beautiful!
B: 哈哈，你今天嘴真甜！ (Hāhā, nǐ jīntiān zuǐ zhēn tián!) Haha, you’re so sweet today!
仪态万方 (yítài wànfāng)
“Graceful in every way.” Formal praise for elegance, often in writing.
e.g.
A: 她穿旗袍时仪态万方。 (Tā chuān qípáo shí yítài wànfāng.) She looks incredibly graceful in a cheongsam.
B: 像画里走出来的人一样。 (Xiàng huà lǐ zǒu chūlái de rén yīyàng.) Like someone stepped out of a painting.
倾国倾城 (qīngguó qīngchéng)
“Beauty that topples cities and kingdoms.” Classical idiom for unparalleled beauty.
e.g.
A: 古代四大美女都是倾国倾城。 (Gǔdài sì dà měinǚ dōu shì qīngguó qīngchéng.) The Four Great Beauties of ancient times were all city-toppling stunners.
B: 难怪君王都为之着迷！ (Nánguài jūnwáng dōu wèi zhī zháomí!) No wonder kings were obsessed with them!
如花似玉 (rú huā shì yù)
“Like a flower, like jade.” This is a poetic and literary expression, often used to describe someone with great beauty or someone who is elegantly beautiful.
e.g.
她如花似玉，美得不可方物。(Tā rú huā shì yù, měi de bù kě fāng wù.) She is as beautiful as a flower and as elegant as jade.
这位小姐如花似玉，非常迷人。(Zhè wèi xiǎojiě rú huā shì yù, fēicháng mírén.) This young lady is as beautiful as a flower and as elegant as jade, truly captivating.
风华绝代 (fēng huá jué dài)
This is a dramatic and literary way of saying that someone is incredibly beautiful. Often used for legendary beauty.
e.g.
她的风华绝代，世上少有。(Tā de fēng huá jué dài, shì shàng shǎo yǒu.) Her beauty is unparalleled, rare in the world.
这位皇后风华绝代，举世无双。(Zhè wèi huánghòu fēng huá jué dài, jǔ shì wú shuāng.) This queen has unparalleled beauty, unmatched by anyone in the world.
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