容貌 (róng mào) is a formal, literary noun meaning 'appearance'—specifically the outward physical features of a person's face and overall bearing. The character 容 (róng) means 'countenance', 'bearing', or 'expression', while 貌 (mào) means 'appearance' or 'looks'; together, they form a compound emphasizing visible, holistic physical presence—not just facial features but also demeanor and impression. It’s commonly used in written Chinese, descriptive prose, biographies, and formal speech, rather than casual conversation.

This term carries a subtle connotation of dignity, naturalness, or inherent quality—it often appears when evaluating someone’s presence in traditional contexts (e.g., classical poetry, historical texts, or character descriptions in novels). Unlike more neutral terms like 外貌 (wài mào), 容貌 suggests a harmonious, integrated impression and may imply moral or aesthetic resonance. It’s rarely used for animals or objects, and never for abstract concepts like personality alone.