漂亮

piàoliang
adjective HSK 2 #323

Meanings

  1. 1 pretty
  2. 2 beautiful

Characters

The combination suggests something polished and radiant. Note is neutral tone here, unlike its standalone fourth tone liàng.

Examples

Tā hěn piàoliang.
She is very pretty.
Zhè jiàn yīfu zhēn piàoliang!
This piece of clothing is really beautiful!
Nǐ de zì xiě de hěn piàoliang.
Your handwriting is very beautiful.
Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang.
This place is very beautiful.

Tips

usage
漂亮 is versatile — it describes people, objects, scenery, handwriting, and even actions. Saying 干得漂亮 means 'nicely done' or 'well played.'
mistakes
The character has three pronunciations: piào (pretty), piāo (to float), and piǎo (to bleach). Use the fourth tone when saying 漂亮.
culture
Complimenting someone as 漂亮 is common and well-received in Chinese culture. You can use it freely for scenery, clothing, and artwork too — not just people.

Stroke Order

piāo
liàng