Hot vs Sexy vs Beautiful vs Cute

[Yezze]

So... I was talking to a buddy of mine from China. His English is basically non-existent, but he came here to learn it. We were walking outside and he ran into our neighbor. They had their granddaughter with them and he trying to be nice told them how cute the baby was. And by "told hem how cute the baby was" I mean he said "Ah she is very sexy"

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Can anyone give me some words to help explain the difference to him. I tried to explain to him shortly after using 美 vs 漂亮 vs 辣妹子。 But I don't think he understood fully.

Anyone got have other words that I am missing to help explain the difference, or general suggestions. Thanks.

[imron]

性感 vs 可爱 will probably do the trick.

e.g. assuming it's a baby and not like an 18-year old grand-daughter.

这小娃娃很可爱 will get smiles and nods of approval from the parents/grandparents.

这小娃娃很性感 will possibly get you locked up in prison.

[Yezze]

这小娃娃很可爱 will get smiles and nods of approval from the parents/grandparents.

这小娃娃很性感 will possibly get you locked up in priso

Haha I'll keep that in mind. Many thanks. Its funny how I feel like I missed these words when I was learning, but don't know why.

[Shelley]

I am not sure that even if she was 18 years old that it would be appropriate to call her sexy in front of her grandparents, in fact not in front of any of her relations. I would think it was only appropriate between friends and more so to the granddaughter herself, if she was of an appropriate age, and then only if you have feelings for her.

Here in the UK the word cute is very rarely used to describe people, babies are usually sweet especially if they are girls and boys are described as bouncing for some reason i don't know.

No one uses sexy really anymore, there is a whole load of other words used to describe attractiveness depending on what age you are.

I think if it is a young baby under a year, lots of oooooooohh's and aaaaaaaaahh's go down well too

[abcdefg]

For babies in Kunming, 他/她 很白， 他/她 很胖 is a popular compliment.

[imron]

I am not sure that even if she was 18 years old that it would be appropriate to call her sexy in front of her grandparents

Agree, but at least you won't be up on paedophile charges.

[Demonic_Duck]

Here in the UK the word cute is very rarely used to describe people, babies are usually sweet especially if they are girls and boys are described as bouncing for some reason i don't know.

Bouncing? Maybe a few decades ago... I mostly just use "cute" myself. Maybe usage varies by location and generation though. I think my parents would be more likely to use "sweet" (for either a boy or a girl).

Regarding Chinese, I think there may be a few words for "cute". 可爱 is the most obvious one, probably because it's a cognate of Japanese "kawaii", which has filtered through to anglophone pop-culture. I've also seen 萌, and I'm pretty sure I've seen at least one other (although I can't remember what it was).

[Shelley]

I think my parents would be more likely to use "sweet" (for either a boy or a girl).

Oh dear, the years are showing

I might be as old as your parents

[Demonic_Duck]

Ah, don't feel too bad about it, I'm just a kid really

[skylee]

probably because it's a cognate of Japanese "kawaii"

I don't think this is the reason.

[Demonic_Duck]

Well, quite possibly not, but that's why the word first stuck in my head.