20 Beautiful Chinese Words Worthy of Your Attention

Ever wondered how to sprinkle a bit of Chinese flair into your everyday conversations? If so, get ready! In today’s article, we’ll share over a dozen beautiful and cool Chinese words that will not only expand your vocabulary but also help you better understand a unique culture and local traditions. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Irreplaceable Wisdom: Chinese Words with No English Equivalents

We can all agree that Chinese and English are quite different languages. So, there is no surprise that some words that make perfect sense in one tongue don’t have any specific equivalents in the other. And that’s exactly what we’ll discuss right now. Here are some beautiful and unique Chinese words with deep meaning:

• 裸婚 (Luǒhūn) – naked marriage.

Nah, nah, not literally. The first word in our list is actually quite beautiful. It is used to describe the type of marriage that goes without the traditional bells and whistles most Western people are used to. No fancy wedding, no house, no car, and in some cases, even no ring. It is more of a deviation rather than a norm in China, as in this country, materialistic assets are almost imperial when it comes to message. However, the existence of this term means that such a simple concept is not entirely unfamiliar.

• 沾 (Zhān) – relationship with rice.

We almost might see your confused expression, but don’t worry, let us explain. Despite some people thinking that it’s stereotypical, rice indeed takes a special place in Chinese cuisine. This term is used to showcase how well other products work with rice. For example, if something is very Zhān, it means that it goes well with the dish. 

• 三观 (Sānguān) – three views.

This so-called umbrella term stands for three core views in one’s life – worldview, values, and ethics. It is one of the most beautiful Chinese words, as it conveys a deep sense of understanding. Locals believe that Sānguān is a compatibility test for any kind of relationship, either romantic or friendly. If you find a person with matching views, you can ensure that your relationship will be filled with harmony and understanding.

• 闺蜜 (Guīmì) – close female best friend.

If, among these cute Chinese words, you’re looking for a new nickname for your bestie, you’ve just found one. This beautiful term describes a very, and we mean very, close female friend. It is not just someone you talk to; it conveys a deeper and intimate level of friendship, probably closer to sisterhood. 

• 土豪 (Tǔháo) – vulgar rich.

Although there is no English equivalent to this term, there is a quite close French one – nouveau riche. Picture someone who rolls up in a gold-plated car, dripping in designer gear, and doesn’t shy away from flaunting their wealth. Typically, it describes someone who’s recently become rich but lacks good taste and cultural refinement.

• 暖男 (Nuǎnnán) – warmhearted man.

This is probably one of our favorite cute words in Chinese. It basically describes the guy who’s always there to lend a helping hand, offer a warm hug, and just generally make you feel safe and cared for. He’s the embodiment of “good vibes only,” the kind of guy who’ll bring you soup when you’re sick and remember your favorite coffee order. Total boyfriend material, and definitely a green flag!

• 后怕 (Hòupà) – fear after.

Have you ever been in a situation where something bad happened, and you were totally fine during the event, but afterward, you were crushed by the wave of fear and panic? If so, you’ve felt what Chinese people call Hòupà. It doesn’t always happen only after bad events; for example, it is also the feeling you get when you bungee jump, and then, once you’re safely on the ground, your legs start shaking.

• 直男 (Zhínán) – straight man.

And here’s a man again. However, this one is not necessarily as nice as our bestie 暖男 (Nuǎnnán). Verbatim simply means a heterosexual man. However, there are some connotations. This man is typically masculine, straightforward, a bit blunt, and always has traditional values. It’s like the complete opposite of the previously mentioned emotional man – this one is stoic and cold.

• 撒娇 (Sājiāo) – to act cute.

If you need one of the most beautiful words in Chinese, here you go! This one describes a specific behavior when the person intentionally acts coquettish and childlike to look cute. It’s like when someone pouts and bats their eyelashes to get out of trouble or get a favor. Adorable, right? Although some might think that it is manipulation or something, it is essential to understand that such behavior is deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

• 缘分 (Yuánfèn) – fate, destiny.

We’ll end our list with one of the most meaningful Chinese words, which is used to describe that magical concept of serendipity or destined connection. It’s the idea that certain people are meant to meet and be in each other’s lives. Like bumping into an old friend in a foreign city or finding love in the most unexpected place. Some call it fate, others call it 缘分.

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10 Pretty Chinese Words to Describe Beauty

If you know how beautiful something can be, you should know how to describe this beauty. And for that matter, we’ve prepared a complete list of amazing terms in Chinese. Here are some of the most widespread and pretty words in Chinese and ways you can use them in conversation.

• 美丽 (Měilì) – beauty, beautiful.

她穿着—身简单而美丽的礼服. (Tā chuānzhuó yīshēn jiǎndān ér měilì de lǐfú.) – She wore a simple yet beautiful gown.

• 玉颜 (Yùyán) – jade-like face; a face as beautiful as jade.

她的玉颜让所有人都为之倾倒. (Tā de yùyán ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu wèi zhī qīngdǎo.) – Her jade-like face captivates everyone.

• 花容月貌 (Huāróngyuèmào) – a face as beautiful as flowers and moonlight; exceptionally beautiful appearance.

她的花容月貌让人惊叹不已. (Tā de huāróngyuèmào ràng rén jīngtàn bù yǐ.) – Her beauty is as breathtaking as flowers in moonlight.

• 娇艳 (Jiāoyàn) – delicate and charming; stunningly beautiful.

她的笑容娇艳动人. (Tā de xiàoróng jiāoyàn dòngrén.) – Her smile is charming and captivating.

• 仙子 (Xiānzǐ) – fairy; a beautiful and ethereal woman.

她的出现如同仙子降临人间. (Tā de chūxiàn rútóng xiānzǐ jiànglín rénjiān.) – Her appearance is like that of a fairy descending to earth.

• 妩媚 (Wǔmèi) – charming and enchanting; alluring.

她的笑声妩媚动听. (Tā de xiàoshēng wǔmèi dòngtīng.) – Her laughter is charming and melodious.

• 优美 (Yōuměi) – graceful and elegant; aesthetically pleasing.

这幅画的线条非常优美l. (Zhè fú huà de xiàntiáo fēicháng yōuměi.) – The lines in this painting are very aesthetically pleasing.

• 美观 (Měiguān) – beautiful in appearance; pleasing to the eye.

这本书的封面设计简洁而美观, (Zhè běn shū de fēngmiàn shèjì jiǎnjié ér měiguān.) – The book’s cover design is simple yet beautiful.

• 棒 (Bàng) – fantastic; excellent (often used to describe something great or attractive).

你的演讲真棒, 我完全被感动了. (Nǐ de yǎnjiǎng zhēn bàng, wǒ wánquán bèi gǎndòng le.) – Your speech was fantastic; it really moved me.

• 美女 (Měinǚ) – beautiful woman; a term used to describe an attractive female.

那位美女在晚会上引人注目. (Nà wèi měinǚ zài wǎnhuì shàng yǐnrénzhùmù.) – That beautiful woman stood out at the party.

Learn More Chinese Meaningful Words with Promova

With all this beautiful vocabulary, it is quite easy to forget that mastering a language, whether Chinese or any other, actually requires a bit more effort. You need to not only learn words but also understand how to pronounce them, how to write them down, etc. But there is no need to worry! With a convenient and helpful Promova application, even mastering a language as tricky as Chinese will become much easier. Why? 

Well, the answer is simple – we do understand how challenging and overwhelming it might be to even think about learning a foreign language. Especially the ones like Chinese or Arabic if you’re unfamiliar with the script. Therefore, within our application, we do our best to simplify your studying, still providing you with all the necessary tools you need to reach your goals.

All our lessons are engaging and interactive, created by language enthusiasts to make your learning process useful and fun. Moreover, we’re practicing a bite-sized learning approach, which allows you to avoid tons of unnecessary information and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.

The Promova application is great for both newbies and experienced learners. Also, within the app, you can learn not only Chinese but many other tongues, including Korean, Arabic, Spanish, French, English, ASL, and many others. The app is available in the Play Market and the App Store, so you can easily install it on your device and access the materials whenever and wherever you need. So what are you waiting for? Get the application now and enjoy your learning!

Conclusion

All in all, it looks like you now know enough aesthetic Chinese words to both engage in conversations with locals and write beautiful captions under your Instagram posts. And we hope that this article was helpful. But that’s it for now, and, as usual, we’re looking forward to seeing you in the next one!