秀美 (xiù měi) — elegant and graceful (of scenery, writing, appearance)

Definition

秀美 describes an elegant, graceful look — typically scenery, handwriting, or natural features, not a person's body. It is more literary than 优美 and not used for people's appearance like 帅 or 苗条.

adjective
elegant and graceful (of scenery, writing, appearance)

Examples

  • 秀美。
    Zhè lǐ de shān shuǐ shí fēn xiù měi.
    The scenery here is very elegant.
  • 秀美。
    Tā de zì xiě dé xiù měi dà fāng.
    Her handwriting is elegant and natural.
  • 秀美。
    Gōng yuán lǐ yǒu yì tiáo xiù měi de xiǎo lù.
    There is a graceful path in the park.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

秀xiùelegant
美měibeautiful

秀 (elegant) and 美 (beautiful) together suggest graceful beauty.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

秀 pairs 禾 (rice plant) with 引 (to draw out flowers), showing a rice plant putting out flowers.

Open 秀 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

美 shows 大, a person, wearing 羊, a headdress of feathers or ram's horn.

Open 美 →

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