adjective / noun HSK 2
beautiful · pretty · good · America (short form)
Meaning
美 is a fundamental character meaning 'beautiful' or 'good.' It can describe physical beauty, aesthetic quality, or general goodness. As a noun, it refers to beauty itself or serves as the short form for America (美国).
Usage
Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. Often appears in compounds like 美丽 (beautiful), 美好 (wonderful), or 美国 (America). Can describe people, scenery, experiences, or abstract concepts. More literary than colloquial 漂亮 when describing physical appearance.
Examples
- 01这里的风景真美。.The scenery here is really beautiful.
- 02她有一个美好的梦想。.She has a wonderful dream.
Common collocations
- 美国America, USA
- 美食delicious food, gourmet food
- 美术fine arts
- 美元US dollar
Antonyms
Origin
Originally depicted a person wearing a sheep or ram headdress, symbolizing beauty in ancient ritual contexts. The combination of 羊 (sheep) and 大 (big) suggested abundance and magnificence.