美容

• Pinyin: měi róng
• Hanzi breakdown: 美 = 羊 (sheep) + 大 (big), beautiful (large sheep = good); 容 = 宀 (roof) + 谷, face/appearance

Meaning

Beauty treatment; cosmetic care; to beautify one's appearance.

Covers skincare, spa treatments, and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Related terms: 美容院 (beauty salon), 美容师 (beautician), 美容觉 (beauty sleep), 整容 (plastic surgery — more invasive). A booming industry in China, especially among young women and increasingly men.

Examples

1. 她每周都去美容院做护理，皮肤保养得特别好。 She goes to the beauty salon every week for treatments — her skin is exceptionally well-maintained.
2. 这款面膜号称有美容功效，其实不过是普通保湿产品。 This face mask claims to have beautifying effects, but it's really just an ordinary moisturizing product.
3. 美容行业竞争激烈，各家店都在推出新项目吸引顾客。 The beauty industry is fiercely competitive, with every shop launching new services to attract customers.

Usage Guide

Context: beauty, skincare, lifestyle

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 她在学美容。(She's studying beauty therapy.)
• 这家美容院评价很好。(This beauty salon has good reviews.)

Don't Say

• 把美容和整容混淆 (美容 is non-invasive care; 整容 involves surgery)

Origin & History

Compound of 美 (beautiful) + 容 (appearance/face). To make one's appearance beautiful.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal