HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
the Americas
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
abbr. for 美洲[Měi zhōu]
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
USA
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
abbr. for 美國
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
>美国[Měi guó]
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
very satisfactory
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
good
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
to be pleased with oneself
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
beautiful, pretty; pleasing
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
abbr. for 美洲[Mei3 zhou1]
HSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
美
měi
abbr. for 美國|美国[Mei3 guo2]
HSK 4, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 羊, rank #462, Medium
měi(mei3) T3
1beautiful
2the Americas
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March 24, 2026
美měi(mei3)
The character 美 (měi) primarily means 'beautiful' or 'pretty.' It is often used to describe pleasing aesthetics or satisfaction, and it also serves as an abbreviation for the Americas and the United States. In various contexts, it can connote a sense of self-satisfaction or self-pleasure.
Strokes9Radical羊Frequency#462DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beauty is often associated with harmony and balance, reflecting traditional values in art and literature. The concept of beauty can also extend to character and morality, emphasizing inner beauty alongside physical appearance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful painting (美) that makes you smile ('měi' sounds like 'may') every time you see it. The character itself resembles a combination of a sheep (羊) and a big mouth (大), suggesting that something beautiful can be worth talking about, or a 'sheep' could be seen as a beautiful, gentle creature.
Meanings of 美
měi(mei3)
1beautiful
2the Americas
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 美
美Simplified
9Strokes
羊Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#462Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 美
Podcast: 美
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AI Study Notes for 美
Quick Contrast
美 (měi) vs 漂亮 (piàoliang) — use 美 for a broader aesthetic appeal or satisfaction, while 漂亮 is more specifically about physical appearance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a beautiful painting (美) that makes you smile ('měi' sounds like 'may') every time you see it. The character itself resembles a combination of a sheep (羊) and a big mouth (大), suggesting that something beautiful can be worth talking about, or a 'sheep' could be seen as a beautiful, gentle creature.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 美 in formal contexts, as it can sometimes imply vanity when used to describe oneself. It commonly collocates with words such as '丽' (lì, beautiful) and '好' (hǎo, good). Remember that the third tone (měi) can be easily confused with other tones; practice the tone in different contexts.
HSK Study Tips
美 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels but is relevant for learners focusing on everyday vocabulary. Students should practice using it in sentences describing beauty or satisfaction to reinforce their understanding. Associating it with related terms like 漂亮 (piàoliang, pretty) can also be beneficial.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beauty is often associated with harmony and balance, reflecting traditional values in art and literature. The concept of beauty can also extend to character and morality, emphasizing inner beauty alongside physical appearance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 美 with 好 (hǎo), mistakenly using 美 to describe things that are simply good rather than beautiful. For example, saying '这个菜很美' (zhège cài hěn měi) is incorrect; it should be '这个菜很好' (zhège cài hěn hǎo) to mean 'This dish is very good.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 美
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Grammar Patterns of 美
美 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 12 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The airline had losses of $35m and was bailed out by Qantas.
10
6月份的出口额上升了1.5%，创下309.1亿美元的历史最高纪录。
6 6 yuè fèn de chū kǒu é shàng shēng1.5%， le 1.5%，309.1 chuàng xià 309.1 yì měi yuán de lì shǐ zuì。
Exports in June rose 5% to a record $91 billion.
Cultural Notes for 美
💡Did you know?
The character 美 (Měi) is often associated with beauty and aesthetics in Chinese culture, reflecting a deep appreciation for art and nature. It is commonly used in words like 美丽 (měi lì), meaning 'beautiful'.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, beauty is often associated with harmony and balance, reflecting traditional values in art and literature. The concept of beauty can also extend to character and morality, emphasizing inner beauty alongside physical appearance.
Word Family of 美
Compounds7
羹geng1soup, broth
镁mei3magnesium
渼
媄
嵄
躾
鎂mei3magnesium
Words Containing This Character20
美国USA美國
美měigood
美元měiyuánUS dollar
完美wánměiperfect
美丽měilìbeautiful美麗
美好měihǎofine
美女měinǚbeautiful woman
美妙měimiàobeautiful
美金měijīnUSD
美味měiwèidelicious
美容měiróngto beautify
美食měishífine food
美分one cent (United States coin)
美人měirénbeauty
赞美zànměito admire讚美
甜美tiánměisweet
美国人American美國人
欧美the West歐美
优美yōuměigraceful優美
中美China-USA
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 羹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 美
美 (měi) is a more general term for beauty and can also refer to the concept of beauty in a broader sense, including aesthetics. 漂亮 (piàoliang), on the other hand, specifically means 'pretty' or 'lovely' and is often used to describe people or things visually. Both can be used interchangeably in some contexts, but 美 has a wider application.
You can use 美 (měi) in a sentence to describe something as beautiful, for example: 这幅画很美 (Zhè fú huà hěn měi), meaning 'This painting is beautiful.' Additionally, you can use it in contexts referring to the USA, such as: 我住在美國 (Wǒ zhù zài Měi guó), meaning 'I live in the United States.'
美 (měi) primarily means 'beautiful' in Chinese, but it can also refer to the Americas and is an abbreviation for the United States (美国, Měi guó). The character is often used in contexts relating to beauty, aesthetics, or the Americas.
You can say '这件衣服很美' (zhè jiàn yīfu hěn měi), meaning 'This piece of clothing is very beautiful.'
No, 美 can also refer to beauty in concepts, experiences, or satisfaction with results.
Common synonyms include 漂亮 (piàoliang) for pretty and 精美 (jīngměi) for exquisite.
