In modern Chinese society, using pleasant, slightly flattering terms of address for strangers has become the norm in urban areas. This practice helps to “lubricate” social interactions, making them smoother and more positive from the start. In Western cultures, calling a male stranger “handsome” (e.g., “Excuse me, handsome”) would be considered very forward, flirtatious, and often inappropriate. This is the biggest cultural difference to understand. In China, calling a waiter or a stranger 帅哥 is usually devoid of romantic intent. It's a default polite term that has replaced more traditional but stuffy words like 先生 (xiānsheng) or 同志 (tóngzhì) in casual, everyday life. This usage reflects a cultural preference for creating a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere, even in brief transactional encounters. By starting an interaction with a light, positive compliment, both parties are put at ease.
帅哥 is an extremely common, informal term. Here’s how you'll hear and use it: