美 měi

simplified

traditional · same

měi

beautiful · delicious · the USA · excellent

HSK 2 笔画 9 部首羊 (sheep) 声调第三声 (dipping) all mei readings →

~5 min read

笔顺 bǐshùn · Stroke order

部首 radical (羊) 部件 component (rest of character) 书写 your drawing

Click the character to replay. Press Try drawing to write it yourself.

字源 zìyuán Etymology & Structure

字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

美 měi = 羊 yáng (sheep) + 大 dà (large). The oracle-bone and bronze forms show a person wearing a large sheep-horn headdress, or simply the image of a large, magnificent sheep. In ancient Chinese agropastoral culture, a large, fat sheep with impressive horns was the finest sacrificial animal and the greatest form of wealth , what pleased the spirits was beautiful.

The same root explains why 善 shàn (morally good; skilled), 羡 xiàn (to envy), and 义 yì (righteousness) all contain the sheep radical 羊 , all connect goodness, beauty, and value through the image of the ideal sacrificial animal. Beauty in classical Chinese thought is not separate from goodness, abundance, and the sacred.

The ancient philosopher Mozi observed: 美 does not consist in one sensory experience alone , it is the harmony of the whole. Confucius declared 尽善尽美 jǐn shàn jǐn měi ("utterly good, utterly beautiful") as the highest aesthetic standard. 美 was never merely decorative.

美丽 měilì Beauty — Aesthetic Vocabulary

美丽 · 漂亮 · 好看 , The Beauty Spectrum 美丽 měilì = poetic, profound beauty , scenery, inner qualities, moments (literary/formal)
漂亮 piàoliang = pretty, attractive , people, clothes, work (colloquial, everyday)
好看 hǎokàn = good-looking, visually pleasant (most casual, also "worth reading/watching")

美丽 měilì beautiful (poetic, elevated)

Adj 形容词 xíngróngcí

美 měi + 丽 lì (splendid; brilliant , originally: a deer with fine antlers). Used for landscapes, natural scenes, and elevated emotional beauty. More literary than 漂亮. 美丽的风景 "beautiful scenery" · 美丽的心灵 "a beautiful soul."

这里的风景非常美丽。

Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng fēicháng měilì.

The scenery here is absolutely beautiful.

美感 měigǎn aesthetic sense; sense of beauty

N 名词 míngcí

美 měi + 感 gǎn (feeling; sense). The capacity to perceive and appreciate beauty. Used in art criticism, design, and discussions of taste. 有美感 "has a good aesthetic sense" · 缺乏美感 "lacks aesthetic awareness."

这个设计很有美感。

Zhège shèjì hěn yǒu měigǎn.

This design has a strong aesthetic quality.

审美 shěnměi aesthetics; aesthetic judgment

N 名词 míngcí

审 shěn (to examine; to judge) + 美 měi (beauty). The act of aesthetic discernment , the capacity to evaluate beauty. 审美观 "aesthetic outlook/values" · 审美趣味 "aesthetic taste." Common in design, art, and cultural criticism.

每个时代都有自己的审美标准。

Měi gè shídài dōu yǒu zìjǐ de shěnměi biāozhǔn.

Every era has its own aesthetic standards.

美国 Měiguó America — The "Beautiful Country"

文化洞见 wénhuà dòngjiàn · Cultural Note

The United States is called 美国 Měiguó , "beautiful country" , because when Western nation names were being transliterated into Chinese in the 19th century, the character 美 was chosen for the "Mer-" sound in "America." Chinese translators consistently selected auspicious or flattering characters when transliterating foreign names. The full form is 亚美利加合众国 Yà-Měi-lì-jiā Hézhòngguó , "the United States of America." Abbreviated: 美国, or simply 美 in compounds.

Key compounds: 美元 Měiyuán (US dollar) · 美军 Měijūn (US military) · 中美关系 Zhōng-Měi guānxi (Sino-American relations) · 旅美华人 lǚ Měi Huárén (Chinese people residing in the US).

美食 měishí Food & Deliciousness

美食 měishí delicious food; gourmet cuisine; gastronomy

N 名词 míngcí

美 měi (beautiful; excellent) + 食 shí (food; to eat). Fine food; delicacies. Used everywhere food culture is celebrated , travel blogs, TV shows, restaurant descriptions. 美食家 měishíjiā = gourmet; food connoisseur.

成都是中国著名的美食之城。

Chéngdū shì Zhōngguó zhùmíng de měishí zhī chéng.

Chengdu is China's famous city of gastronomy.

鲜美 xiānměi fresh and delicious; savory

Adj 形容词 xíngróngcí

鲜 xiān (fresh; vivid , the "umami" character, fish + sheep 鱼+羊) + 美 měi (beautiful; delicious). The compound for food that is both fresh and deeply flavorful. Note: 鲜 also contains the sheep radical 羊, linking back to 美's own etymology. Used for broths, seafood, and fresh ingredients.

这汤味道鲜美极了。

Zhè tāng wèidào xiānměi jíle.

This soup is incredibly fresh and savory.

成语 chéngyǔ Idioms & Set Phrases

尽善尽美 jǐn shàn jǐn měi utterly good and utterly beautiful — perfection achieved Confucius used this phrase to evaluate music: the highest praise for something that excels in both moral virtue and aesthetic form. Used today for flawless work, ideal relationships, and perfect events.

美不胜收 měi bù shèng shōu beauty beyond what the eye can take in — overwhelmingly beautiful Lit: beauty-not-able-to-receive/contain. Used for spectacular natural scenery, festivals, or exhibitions where there is simply too much beauty to absorb at once.

各有所美 gè yǒu suǒ měi each has its own beauty — beauty takes many forms A pluralist aesthetic principle: different things, places, or people each have their own kind of beauty. Used to avoid ranking or comparisons. The civilized response to "which is better?"

爱美之心，人皆有之 ài měi zhī xīn, rén jiē yǒu zhī the love of beauty is universal — everyone has a heart for beauty Classical proverb affirming the universality of aesthetic appreciation. Often used to gently excuse vanity or the appreciation of beautiful people and things.

记忆法 jìyìfǎ · Master Retention Image

Picture a magnificent ram (the largest, most impressive sheep) standing at the center of a sacrificial ceremony. Its horns curve perfectly; its fleece is spotless; the whole village gathers around it in admiration. That is 美: abundance, excellence, and the deepest pleasure, all converging on the same thing.