mei4 cing1 muk6 sau3眉清目秀
Jyutpingmei4 cing1 muk6 sau3
Yalemèih chīng muhk sau
Definition
Having delicate, refined, and beautiful facial features.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is primarily used to describe males or young boys who have refined, gentle, or handsome facial features. It carries a sense of elegance and clarity in one's appearance, often implying a scholarly or gentle temperament. While it can technically apply to anyone, it is rarely used to describe women, for whom other terms like 靚女 or 標緻 are more common.
Examples
He was already very delicate-featured when he was a child.
Which boy is so delicate-featured?
Related words
Common phrases
to be born with delicate features
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for anyone who is simply good-looking, but it specifically refers to the refinement of the eyes and eyebrows rather than general attractiveness or a muscular build.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
