Complimenting plays a very important part in our social life. By complimenting others, it takes the attention off from yourself and putting them onto others. Compliment has to be sincere and genuine. That being said, you need to be weary of the words used when complimenting others. You would not want to offend the receiver by saying things that will hurt him/her. Words such as fat, skinny or ugly should be avoided at all cost as these are words people generally do not like to hear. Let us learn how to compliment in Mandarin Chinese from this post.
There are many situations in your everyday life that you can give compliment to your friends and loved ones. Compliment in Chinese does not apply only to appearance, it can also be work related, a place, food you have eaten and many more. If you want to know how to compliment in Chinese such as you are beautiful, you are handsome, you are great in Mandarin Chinese, read on!
How to compliment a girl’s hair
A
彼得：玛丽，你今天看起来很不一样。
Bǐdé: Mǎ lì, nǐ jīn tiān kàn qǐ lái hěn bù yī yàng?
Peter: Mary, you look different today.
玛丽：是吗？我只是化了点妆，做了做头发。
Mǎ lì Shì ma? Wǒ zhǐ shì huà le diǎn zhuāng, zuòle zuò tóu fǎ.
Mary: Really? I just put a little makeup on and had my hair done.
彼得：这发型很适合你，很好看。
Bǐdé: Zhè fǎ xíng hěn shì hé nǐ, hěn hǎo kàn.
Peter: This hairstyle suits you, you look great.
B
小陈: 哇，彼得，你看起来真精神！佳人有约吗？
Xiǎo chén: Wa, bǐ dé, nǐ kàn qǐ lái zhēn jīng shén! Jiā rén yǒu yuē ma?
Mr. Chen: Wow, Peter, you look great! Meeting your girlfriend?
彼得：没有哇。
Bǐdé: Méi yǒu wa.
Peter: Not really.
小陈: 别装了。打扮得那么酷，不是约会才怪。
Xiǎo chén: Bié zhuāng le. Dǎ bàn de nà me kù, bù shì yuē huì cái guài.
Mr. Chen: Stop pretending. Why dressed up so cool if it’s not a date?
Traditional Chinese
A
彼得：瑪麗，你今天看起來很不一樣。
瑪麗：是嗎？我只是化了點妝，做了做頭髮。
彼得：這髮型很適合你，很好看。
B
小陳: 哇，彼得，你看起來真精神！佳人有約嗎？
彼得：沒有哇。
小陳: 別裝了。打扮得那麼酷，不是約會才怪。
How to compliment someone’s cooking
小陈: 尝尝这红烧牛肉面。这是我最拿手的菜。
Xiǎo chén: Cháng cháng zhè hóng shāo niú ròu miàn. Zhè shì wǒ zuì ná shǒu de cài.
Mr. Chen: Try this braised beef noodle. It is my specialty.
彼得：非常美味。汤头咸淡适宜，肉很入味。让我想再吃一碗。
Bǐdé: Fēi cháng měi wèi. Tāng tóu xián dàn shì yí, ròu hěn rù wèi. Ràng wǒ xiǎng zài chī yī wǎn.
Peter: It’s very tasty. The soup is just right and the meat is well seasoned. Makes me want to have another bowl.
小陈：你太夸奖了。
Xiǎo chén: Nǐ tài kuā jiǎng le.
Mr. Chen: You are flattering me.
Traditional Chinese
小陳: 嚐嚐這道紅燒牛肉麵。這是我最拿手的菜。
彼得：非常美味。湯頭鹹淡適宜，肉很入味。讓我想再吃一碗。
小陳：你太誇獎了。
30 compliments in Mandarin Chinese
How to compliment about work
我对你的工作表现很满意。
Wǒ duì nǐ de gōng zuò biǎo xiàn hěn mǎn yì.
I am satisfied with your work performance.
我为你感到骄傲。
Wǒ wèi nǐ gǎn dào jiāo ào.
I am proud of you
你办事很认真，我放心。
Nǐ bàn shì hěn rèn zhēn, wǒ fàng xīn.
You are serious in your work, I can count on you.
你工作效率很高。
Nǐ gōng zuò xiào lǜ hěn gāo.
You work very efficiently.
你很专业。
Nǐ hěn zhuān yè.
You are very professional.
How to compliments about a person in Mandarin Chinese
你的口才很好。
Nǐ de kǒu cái hěn hǎo.
You are very eloquent.
你很幽默。
nǐ hěn yōu mò.
You have a sense of humor.
你是个勤快又聪明的人。
Nǐ shì gè qín kuài yòu cōng míng de rén.
You are a diligent and an intelligent person.
你很有天赋。
Nǐ hěn yǒu tiān fù.
You are very talented.
你是独一无二的。
Nǐ shì dú yī wú èr de.
You are unique / you are one of a kind.
你真有耐心。
Nǐ zhēn yǒu nài xīn.
You are very patient.
How to say you look good in Mandarin Chinese
你看起来很棒。
Nǐ kàn qǐ lái hěn bàng.
You look fantastic.
这颜色很适合你。
Zhè yán sè hěn shì hé nǐ.
This colour suits you. / This colour is perfect for you.
你的眼睛很迷人。
Nǐ de yǎn jīng hěn mí rén.
You have lovely eyes.
你穿什么衣服都好看。
Nǐ chuān shén me yī fú dōu hǎo kàn.
You look great in all styles of clothes.
你看上去非常出众。
Nǐ kàn shàng qù fēi cháng chū zhòng.
You look very outstanding.
How to say awesome / amazing / beautiful in Mandarin Chinese
干得好！
Gàn de hǎo!
Well done.
你真行！
Nǐ zhēn xíng!
You are great!
干得漂亮！
Gàn de piào liang!
Well done!
太牛了！
Tài Niú le!
That’s incredible!
你今天的气色不错。
Nǐ jīn tiān de qì sè bù cuò.
You look great today.
你今天的打扮真酷。
Nǐ jīn tiān de dǎ bàn zhēn kù.
You look cool today.
真不可思议。
Zhēn bù kě sī yì.
It’s really unbelievable.
这里风景如画。
Zhèlǐ fēng jǐng rú huà.
It’s picturesque here.
你们很了不起!
Nǐ men hěn liǎo bù qǐ!
You are amazing!
真是棒极了!
Zhēn shi bàng jí le.
It’s really fantastic.
真是令人难忘!
Zhēn shi lìng rén nán wàng.
It’s really unforgettable.
你真够朋友！
Nǐ zhēn gòu péng yǒu!
You are truly a good friend!
你汉语说得非常好。
Nǐ hànyǔ shuō de fēi cháng hǎo.
You speak Chinese really well.
你汉字写得非常漂亮。
Nǐ hàn zì xiě de fēi cháng piào liang.
Your Chinese handwriting is very beautiful.
你汉语说得很流利。
Nǐ hàn yǔ shuō de hěn liú lì.
You speak Chinese very fluently.
Language tip
Chinese usually say 过奖了(Guò jiǎng le) when complimented by someone. This is to show one’s modesty in response to the praise or compliment. Chinese will also reply in the negative to show their modesty. For example, if you say he/she is a great singer, he/she will reply not good or far from it. No matter what kind of response you may receive, people love to receive compliments. It makes the receiver feel motivated and happy. The giver will also feel good by complimenting others because he/she has seen best in others and putting the appreciations into words.
The next time you received a good service or eaten a delicious bowl of noodle prepared by your family / friend, give them the compliments they deserve. It will surely made their day and yours as well.
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