Chinese phrases
How to say smart in Chinese
Smart in Chinese is 聪明 (cōng ming). When someone does something impressive, people usually say 好厉害 (hǎo lì hai), “that’s amazing.”
聪明
smart; intelligent
Ways to say smart
聪明
Everydaysmart; intelligent
The general word for a bright person, child or pet. Students call a top student a 学霸.
厉害
Everydayimpressive; really good
For what someone can do: solve a hard problem, speak four languages. 好厉害 is the reaction in the moment.
机灵
Everydayquick-witted; sharp
Alert and fast to react, mostly said of children and pets.
有头脑
Everydayhas a good head
Clear-thinking and practical, often about business: 有商业头脑, “a good head for business.”
精明
Everydayshrewd
Sharp, especially with money. It can be praise, or a hint that the person is calculating.
智能
Everydaysmart (of devices)
For technology, never for people: 智能手机 is a smartphone, 智能手表 a smartwatch.
精神
Everydaysharp-looking; smart (of dress)
Smart in the British sense: neat and lively. 你今天很精神 is “you look sharp today.”
Common mistakes
Saying 聪明手机
A smartphone is 智能手机. 聪明 is for people and animals; phones, watches and homes are 智能.
Using 聪明 for “you look smart”
聪明 is only about the mind. When a friend is well dressed, say 你今天很精神 or 好帅.
Reading 小聪明 as “a bit smart”
小聪明 is petty cleverness: small tricks that skip the real work. 别耍小聪明 means “don’t try to be clever.”
A young chess player
我弟弟才五岁，就会下象棋了。
Qiqi: My little brother is only five, and he can already play Chinese chess.
这么厉害！好聪明啊。
Leon: That’s amazing! He’s so smart.
是啊，而且他老是赢我。
Qiqi: Yes, and he keeps beating me.
哈哈，那他比你聪明。
Leon: Ha, so he’s smarter than you.
