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秀美 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
秀美xiùměielegantHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #37278, Very Hard
秀美xiùměigracefulHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #37278, Very Hard
xiùměi(xiu4mei3)xiu mei T4
  1. 1elegant
  2. 2graceful
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March 24, 2026

秀美xiùměi(xiu4mei3)

The term 秀美 (xiu4 mei3) describes someone or something that possesses elegance and grace. It is often used to refer to physical beauty, artistic expressions, or refined behavior. The word conveys a sense of aesthetic appeal, often associated with cultural or natural beauty.

Strokes16Frequency#37278DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, elegance and grace are highly valued traits associated with poetry, art, and the idealized behaviors of scholars. The concept of 秀美 can often be seen in classical Chinese literature and paintings, illustrating the deep appreciation for beauty and refinement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful flower (秀) growing gracefully (美) in a serene garden. The flower is so elegant that it draws the attention of everyone nearby. The pronunciation 'xiu' sounds like 'show' and 'mei' like 'may', as if the flower is showcasing its beauty in May.

Meanings of 秀美

xiùměi(xiu4mei3)
1elegant
2graceful
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About 秀美

秀美Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 秀美

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AI Study Notes for 秀美

Quick Contrast

秀丽 (xiùlì) — use 秀美 for a broader sense of elegance and grace, while 秀丽 emphasizes beauty in a more refined or delicate way.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 秀美 with other similar terms like 漂亮 (piao4 liang4), which generally means 'pretty' but lacks the deeper connotation of elegance. This word is more formal and is often used in literature or when complimenting someone's demeanor. Remember to use the correct tones to convey the meaning accurately.

HSK Study Tips

Although 秀美 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares components with other HSK words such as 美 (beautiful) and 秀 (to show). Focus on understanding the nuances of beauty and grace as you study related vocabulary, expanding your descriptive abilities.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 秀美 to describe ordinary appearances, while it is better suited for refined beauty. For example, saying '这件衣服很秀美' ('This dress is very elegant') may sound awkward; instead, use '这件衣服很漂亮' ('This dress is very pretty').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 秀美

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Component Characters

秀xiùhandsome
7 strokes禾
View full entry
美měibeautiful
HSK 49 strokes羊
View full entry

How to say elegant in Chinese

“elegant” in Chinese is秀美xiùměi

The term 秀美 (xiu4 mei3) describes someone or something that possesses elegance and grace. It is often used to refer to physical beauty, artistic expressions, or refined behavior. The word conveys a sense of aesthetic appeal, often associated with cultural or natural beauty.

When to use 秀美

Be careful not to confuse 秀美 with other similar terms like 漂亮 (piao4 liang4), which generally means 'pretty' but lacks the deeper connotation of elegance. This word is more formal and is often used in literature or when complimenting someone's demeanor. Remember to use the correct tones to convey the meaning accurately.

秀美 or something close to it

秀丽 (xiùlì) — use 秀美 for a broader sense of elegance and grace, while 秀丽 emphasizes beauty in a more refined or delicate way.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 秀美 to describe ordinary appearances, while it is better suited for refined beauty. For example, saying '这件衣服很秀美' ('This dress is very elegant') may sound awkward; instead, use '这件衣服很漂亮' ('This dress is very pretty').

Write 秀美

秀
美

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Frequently Asked Questions about 秀美

Yes, 秀美 can describe not only physical beauty but also graceful and elegant behavior, reflecting someone's character.

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