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 4th tone (liàng).

Examples

Tā hěn piào liang.
She is very pretty.
Zhè jiàn yī fu zhēn piào liang!
This piece of clothing is really beautiful!
Nǐ de zì xiě de hěn piào liang.
Your handwriting is very beautiful.
Zhè ge dì fang hěn piào liang.
This place is very beautiful.

Tips

usage
漂亮 is versatile — it describes people, objects, scenery, handwriting, and even actions. Saying 漂亮 means 'nicely done' or 'well played.'
mistakes
The character has three pronunciations: piào (pretty), piāo (to float), and piǎo (to bleach). Make sure to use the 4th tone when saying 漂亮.
culture
In Chinese culture, complimenting someone as 漂亮 is common and well-received. You can use it freely for scenery, clothing, and artwork too — not just people.

Stroke Order

piào
liàng