白皙 (báixī): fair and clear (of skin)

Meanings

1 fair and clear (of skin)
2 pale and translucent

Characters

白

(of skin) fair, clear

Examples

她的皮肤白皙细腻。

Tā de pífū báixī xìnì.

Her skin is fair and smooth.

镜头下他的脸格外白皙。

Jìngtóu xià tā de liǎn géwài báixī.

On camera his face looks particularly fair.

Tips

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More literary and complimentary than 白 or 肤白 — implies not just pale but luminous and fine-textured. Standard in fashion/beauty writing; 皙 itself appears almost exclusively in this compound.

Stroke Order

白 bái

皙 xī

Related Words

美白 měibái

to whiten (skin or teeth) / skin-whitening (as a product category)

显白 xiǎnbái

to make the skin look fairer (of a color) / flattering to the complexion / skin-brightening (of clothing / makeup)

白毛乌骨鸡 báimáowūgǔjī

white-feathered black-boned chicken / white silkie (a Chinese breed with white plumage but dark skin, flesh and bones)

白富美 báifùměi

'Ms Perfect' — fair-skinned, rich, and beautiful (internet slang) / ideal female marriage prospect (stereotype)

明白 míngbai HSK 1 #175

to understand / clear / obvious

白天 báitiān HSK 1 #3,605

daytime; during the day

白色 báisè HSK 2 #2,653

white (color)

白人 báirén #1,648

white person / Caucasian

白 bái HSK 3 #1,105

white / blank; empty / in vain; for nothing

白痴 báichī #898

idiot / imbecile / moron