Context: in Ancient Colors act 1 scene 1, Mamere describes Jakob like this:
“是个相当帅气的人哦。而且…而且还很温柔。” (“A rather handsome person~ And… and quite gentle, too.”)
English version: “A rather cool person. And… quite gentle, too.”
T/N
哦 — Added at the end of a declarative sentence to sound softer or more friendly and less… declarative? Some Melusines use this.
帅气 — Has both meanings of “handsome” and “cool” (with a brighter vibe). Can also be used to describe someone’s vibe and not just appearance. More impersonal, like you’re describing something but without the romantic attraction that’s typically associated with calling someone 帅 (handsome). (帅 is used to describe one’s physical appearance…?)
Compare with 酷 which is more “cool” in a… bad boy way? (By human standards Neuvillette could be described as 帅气 but Wriothesley could be described as 酷, I guess.)
Handsome, perhaps because Mamere thinks Jakob is aesthetically pleasing (she’s a painter after all), or because she senses who he really is?
English version uses “cool” which I interpreted as attractive in a level-headed way, but… Hm. Certainly not in a “oh dude that’s so cool” way.
-
Ancient Colors act 2
Mamere: Is it because... you thought he [Jakob] was handsome?
Kaykaus: Oh, so you like purple, do you, Boss?
Irus: What in the world are you talking about, you idiot? Of course not! How's that guy handsome, anyway — also, what kind of reason is "I like purple"!?
Kksjsjsjs wait wait I need to check something
Chinese (transcript wiki page):
玛梅赫：因为…觉得他很帅？
凯伊卡：哦哦，大姐，原来是这样！大姐喜欢紫色？
伊洛丝：笨蛋，说什么啊！怎么可能啊！而且那家伙一点也不帅吧？而且喜欢紫色是什么理由啦！
Oh my god
Mamere does call him handsome, and Kaykaus and Irus basically go
Kaykaus: Ohh, so that’s how it is, sis! You like purple?
Irus: Idiot, the hell are you talking about! You think that’s what it is? And that guy’s not handsome at all, right? And what kind of reason is “I like purple”!?
T/N
大姐 — “sis” as in, female leader of a gang… kind of? Not sure if there’s a better English equivalent. In a sibling context 姐 means older sister. May also be taken as an insult because it makes the other person sound old. It’s complicated.
怎么可能啊！— kind of a rhetorical “How’s that possible!”/“How could that be!”, more directly…?