美女

• Pinyin: měi nǚ
• Hanzi breakdown: 美 = 羊 (sheep) + 大 (big) — beautiful; 女 = pictograph of a kneeling woman

Meaning

Beautiful woman; beauty. A term for an attractive woman, also commonly used as a casual form of address.

Beyond its literal meaning of 'beautiful woman,' 美女 is widely used as a casual way to address women in service contexts (restaurants, shops) or in casual conversation, regardless of appearance. This usage is informal and most common in northern China. Some women find this usage flattering while others consider it overly familiar.

Examples

1. 她是我们学校有名的美女。 She is a well-known beauty at our school.
2. 这部电影的女主角是一位美女演员。 The female lead of this movie is a beautiful actress.
3. 公园里有很多美女在拍照。 There are many beautiful women taking photos in the park.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, compliment, address

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 她真是个美女，很多人都喜欢她。(She's really a beauty — many people like her.)
• 美女，请问这个怎么卖？(Miss, how much is this?)

Don't Say

• 在正式场合对女性说美女 — in professional or formal settings, use 女士 (Ms.) or the person's name; 美女 can be seen as disrespectful or overly familiar

Origin & History

美 means 'beautiful' and 女 means 'woman.' A straightforward compound describing a beautiful woman.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal