Chinese Character Tattoo · Single-character

丽 (lì) — Beautiful

Single-character Chinese tattoo · verified meaning · classic & elegant friendly

Meaning & Nuance

丽 (lì) means beautiful, especially in an elegant, refined way — of a woman (丽人), of scenery (秀丽), of splendor (华丽). It is pure aesthetic beauty and pairs with 美 as 美丽, the standard word for “beautiful.” It differs from 艳 (yàn, vivid/gorgeous) — 丽 is graceful rather than loud.

Pronunciation & Form

Pinyin: lì — a fourth-tone (sharp, falling) syllable. The tone drops cleanly, a crisp, polished sound that suits the character's elegance.

Common Words & Phrases

美丽 měilì — beautiful

秀丽 xiùlì — elegant beauty (scenery)

华丽 huálì — magnificent / gorgeous

丽人 lìrén — beautiful lady

Why Get 丽 as a Tattoo

丽 is classic, graceful beauty — a timeless single-character tattoo for anyone who values elegance over flash. As a tattoo it is pretty and balanced, reading clearly even small, and it pairs with 美, 柔, or 心. People choose 丽 to name the kind of beauty that is quiet but unforgettable.

Tattoo Style & Placement

Best fits: script, fine-line, or elegant minimalist. 丽's tidy structure suits refined, understated work. Placements: inner wrist, collarbone, forearm, or behind the ear. A small 丽 in a fine script is a graceful everyday mark. Size warning: keep the character at least ~4 mm tall per stroke group so it stays readable as skin ages.

Authenticity & Cultural Note

Always confirm the character with a native speaker or linguist before inking. 丽 is unambiguously positive (beautiful), but verify any companion characters — handmade.ink meanings are checked by native Chinese linguists so your ink says exactly what you intend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Chinese character 丽 mean?

丽 (lì) means beautiful, especially in an elegant, refined way — of a person, scenery, or splendor. With 美 it forms 美丽, the standard word for “beautiful.”

How do you pronounce 丽?

丽 is pronounced lì — a fourth-tone (sharp falling) syllable in Mandarin, dropping cleanly.

Is 丽 a good tattoo meaning?

Yes. 丽 is a timeless, elegant single character for beauty, and it reads gracefully even at a small size.

What words use the character 丽?

Common words include 美丽 (měilì, beautiful), 秀丽 (xiùlì, elegant scenery), 华丽 (huálì, magnificent), and 丽人 (lìrén, beautiful lady).

What is the difference between 丽 and 艳?

丽 (lì) is graceful, refined beauty; 艳 (yàn) is vivid, head-turning gorgeousness. 丽 whispers, 艳 announces.