This is a Quora Question Answer for Mandarin Chinese， which can be a reference to the beginner students.
The Original Quora Link.
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Chinese-word-for-cute/answer/Qiqi-Fan
What is the Chinese word for cute?
Answer:
Like any other languages in the world, more context will be helpful for both side to understand the specific wording or phrase meaning it conveys, as cute have a few different meaning, so here is some scenario samples I assumed, hope helpful to you.
1.If you are gonna use the word “cute” on a teen age girl for adorable, lovely or sweet, then you say:
“可爱” you can use this phrase in public as a compliment to a girl, but not a lady more than 30 usually. also “可爱” can be used on something, like a handicraft, or pets
2.if you want to imply a sexual attractive way of the women, then you say:
“漂亮” which literally means pretty, good looking , sometimes you can also use this for a little girl , but “可爱” is more common.
3.If you want to convey a cunning way, then you say
“耍(小)聪明”, this is a complicated way to use in Chinese, you can kind of consider it as a innuendo way of doing or say something to other people.