优美
Traditional: 優美
yōu měi HSK 5

English Meaning

Categories

Art

📚 Example Sentences

她的舞姿很优美。
Tā de wǔzī hěn yōuměi.
Her dancing posture is very graceful.
这首歌的旋律很优美。
Zhè shǒu gē de xuánlǜ hěn yōuměi.
The melody of this song is very beautiful.
这个公园的风景很优美。
Zhège gōngyuán de fēngjǐng hěn yōuměi.
The scenery of this park is very fine.
她的舞姿很优美。
Tā de wǔzī hěn yōuměi.
Her dance posture is very graceful.
这首歌很优美。
Zhè shǒu gē hěn yōuměi.
This song is very beautiful.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 优 (yōu) means 'excellent' and 美 (měi) means 'beautiful.' Think of something that is 'excellently beautiful' or has 'superior beauty'—like a graceful ballet dancer.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used to describe art, music, dance, scenery, language, or physical movements that possess a delicate and refined beauty.

📖 Grammar Points

It is primarily used as an attributive adjective (e.g., 优美的歌声) or a predicate adjective (e.g., 这里的风景很优美). It can also be used in the pattern 'Subject + Verb + 得 + 优美' to describe an action's manner (e.g., 她跳得十分优美).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese aesthetics, 优美 reflects a traditional appreciation for subtle, gentle, and harmonious beauty, often associated with classical arts like poetry, calligraphy, and dance. It contrasts with more vigorous or sublime (壮美) forms.

🔄 Similar Words

美丽 (měilì) generally means 'beautiful' and is broader, often for visual appearance. 优美 emphasizes a graceful, artistic quality, more about style than just looks. 优雅 (yōuyǎ) means 'elegant' and often describes a person's refined demeanor, while 优美 is more for the quality of things or performances.

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