Cool MateHe's so handsome vs Striking
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He's so handsome
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Striking
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Most formal: Striking
| He's so handsome | Striking | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //hiːz səʊ ˈhæn.dɪsəm//🇺🇸 //hiz soʊ ˈhæn.səm// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | He looks very attractive. | Very noticeable or impressive. |
| Example | Look at him, he's so handsome! | a striking feature |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | so handsome, handsome man, handsome features | be, look, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, in |
| Antonyms | - | unremarkable, ordinary, dull |
| Common mistakes | Overuse in formal contexts, like job interviews., Saying 'handsome' only for men; it can also refer to women in some contexts, less commonly. | Confused with 'strikes' as in hitting something., Using 'striking' to describe something common or boring., Not understanding it can refer to people as well as objects. |
| Usage notes | Used casually to express admiration for someone's physical appearance. Appropriate among friends but less formal in professional settings. | Use 'striking' to describe something that catches attention due to its beauty, uniqueness, or size. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: He's so handsome vs Striking
What's the difference between He's so handsome and Striking?
He's so handsome: He looks very attractive. Striking: Very noticeable or impressive.
Which is more formal: He's so handsome and Striking?
Striking is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
He's so handsome: Look at him, he's so handsome! Striking: a striking feature
Can I use He's so handsome and Striking interchangeably?
Not always. He's so handsome and Striking are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.