Chinese word

优雅

Pronunciation

Pinyinyōu yǎ

Meaning

  • adjectiveelegant

Example

她的举止很优雅。tā de jú zhǐ hěn yōu yǎ

Her manners are very elegant.

Illustration for 优雅 (elegant)

More examples

钢琴家的演奏既专业又优雅。gāng qín jiā de yǎn zòu jì zhuān yè yòu yōu yǎ

The pianist's performance was both professional and elegant.

Core concept

A calm, well-shaped quality that makes a person or thing look polished without excess.

Common phrases

  • 举止优雅jú zhǐ yōu yǎ

    elegant manners

  • 谈吐优雅tán tǔ yōu yǎ

    refined speech

  • 穿着优雅chuān zhe yōu yǎ

    elegant dress

Similar words

高雅gāo yǎ: Showing refined beauty shaped by learning, culture, and sophisticated taste.
文雅wén yǎ: Showing calm, polished language and cultivated good manners in speech or writing.
端庄duān zhuāng: Looking neat, composed, and modest in manner or bearing.
优美yōu měi: Looking beautiful through smooth shapes or graceful movements.

Definition in Chinese

用来描述人或事物呈现出优雅、端庄的气质，常指有节制的美和品位yòng lái miáo shù rén huò shì wù chéng xiàn chū yōu yǎ duān zhuāng de qì zhì cháng zhǐ yǒu jié zhì de měi hé pǐn wèi

Word origin

优雅 (yōuyǎ, "elegant") joins 优 (yōu, "excellent") and 雅 (yǎ, "refined"), linking high quality with cultivated taste.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often reserve elegant for clothes, rooms, or design, but Chinese uses this adjective naturally for a person's manner or way of speaking as well.

Other meanings

  • refinedadjective
  • gracefuladjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 优雅地yōu yǎ dìelegantlyadverb

Word lists with this word