Translation and Meaning of: 美しい - utsukushii

If you are studying Japanese, you have probably come across the word 美しい (うつくしい), which means "beautiful" or "charming." But do you know how it originated, how it is used in everyday life, or even how to memorize it effectively? In this article, we will explore the etymology, usage, and even curiosities about this expression so present in Japanese culture. Additionally, you will learn how to write the kanji correctly and some tips to fix this word in your vocabulary. If you use Anki or another spaced repetition method, get ready to jot down practical examples!

The origin and etymology of 美しい

The word 美しい has deep roots in the Japanese language, and its kanji, 美, is composed of two elements: 羊 (sheep) and 大 (big). Why would a big sheep be associated with beauty? In ancient China, where the character originated, big sheep were considered symbols of prosperity and harmony, attributes that naturally relate to the concept of beauty. Over time, the ideogram was incorporated into Japanese with the same aesthetic meaning.

Interestingly, the reading うつくしい (utsukushii) is one of the many Japanese words that carry an almost poetic sound. Some linguists suggest that the ending "shii" is common in adjectives that describe subjective qualities, such as 楽しい (tanoshii - fun) and 悲しい (kanashii - sad). Do you notice how the Japanese language has its own musicalities?

Lies in everyday life and cultural nuances

Unlike Portuguese, where "bonito" can be used in a more casual way, 美しい carries a more elevated, almost lyrical tone. You would hardly use it to compliment a new pair of shoes, but rather to describe a stunning landscape, a work of art, or even an act of kindness. It is the type of word that appears in poems, songs, and formal speeches, giving an air of sophistication to what is said.

A valuable tip: the Japanese often use 美しい for things that have a pure, almost untouched beauty. Have you noticed how cherry blossoms (桜) are often described this way? There is even a specific term, 花見 (hanami), for the tradition of appreciating their fleeting beauty. If you want to impress a native, try saying "桜が美しいですね" (sakura ga utsukushii desu ne) next spring!

Tips for memorization and writing

If you have difficulty remembering how to write the kanji 美, try associating it with the image of a "big sheep" (羊 + 大). It may seem silly, but our brains love visual stories! Another technique is to create flashcards with images of things you truly consider beautiful - whether it's a sunset, a zen garden, or even your favorite well-arranged sushi dish. Emotion helps to reinforce vocabulary.

And be careful of the trap: do not confuse 美しい (utsukushii) with きれい (kirei), which also means "pretty" but is used more in everyday situations. While kirei can describe anything from a tidy room to a dress, utsukushii is reserved for something truly beautiful in a deeper sense. How about practicing by making two sentences, one with each word? That way, you'll never mix them up again!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 美しく (Utsukushiku) - Beautiful, nice
• 美麗な (Bireina) - Extremely beautiful, attractive
• 艶やかな (Ayanakana) - Brilliant, seductive
• 華麗な (Kareina) - Magnificent, splendid
• 麗しい (Uruwashii) - Beautiful, charming
• 優美な (Yubi na) - Funny, elegant
• 洒落た (Shareta) - Stylish, sophisticated
• 上品な (Joihin na) - Refined, elegant
• 優雅な (Yūgana) - Elegant, graceful
• 高貴な (Kōkina) - Noble, dignified

美しい

Romaji: utsukushii
Kana: うつくしい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: beautiful; charming

Meaning in English: beautiful;lovely

Definition: Something that looks beautiful in appearance and shape.

Example Sentences - (美しい) utsukushii

See below some example sentences:

稲光が輝く夜空は美しいです。

Inabikari ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu

The night the lightning shine is beautiful.

The night sky where the shine shines is beautiful.

• 稲光 (inabikari) - lightning
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 輝く (kagayaku) - shine
• 夜空 (yozora) - night sky
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

紺色の海が美しいです。

Koniro no umi ga utsukushii desu

The dark blue sea is beautiful.

The dark blue sea is beautiful.

• 紺色 - navy blue color
• の - Possession particle
• 海 - sea
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - verb ser/estar (polite form)

私は美しい景色を描くことが好きです。

Watashi wa utsukushii keshiki wo egaku koto ga suki desu

I enjoy drawing beautiful landscapes.

I enjoy drawing beautiful landscapes.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 景色 (keshiki) - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 描く (egaku) - verb that means "to draw" or "to paint"
• こと (koto) - abstract noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• 好き (suki) - adjective meaning "to like" or "to appreciate"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

真珠は美しい宝石です。

Shinju wa utsukushii houseki desu

The pearls are beautiful jewels.

Pearls are beautiful jewels.

• 真珠 (しんじゅ) - pearl
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい (うつくしい) - Beautiful, lovely
• 宝石 (ほうせき) - gemstone
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

眺めが美しいですね。

Nagame ga utsukushii desu ne

The view is beautiful

The view is beautiful.

• 眺め (nagame) - view, landscape
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
• ね (ne) - particle of confirmation or rhetorical question

画は美しい芸術です。

Gaku wa utsukushii geijutsu desu

Painting is a beautiful art form.

Painting is fine art.

• 画 - means "painting" or "drawing".
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "painting".
• 美しい - means "beautiful" or "beautiful".
• 芸術 - means "art".
• です - is a polite way of saying "is" or "is".

王女は美しいです。

Oujo wa utsukushii desu

The princess is beautiful.

The princess is beautiful.

• 王女 - "oujo" - means "princess"
• は - wa- Topic particle
• 美しい - "utsukushii" - means "beautiful"
• です - desu - polite way of "being"

生ける花は美しいです。

Ikeru hana wa utsukushii desu

The living flowers are beautiful.

The vibrant flowers are beautiful.

• 生ける花 - ikeru hana (alive flower, flower arranged in a vase)
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful (pretty, nice)
• です - desu (verb to be)

煉瓦の壁が美しい家。

Renga no kabe ga utsukushii ie

The house with a brick wall is beautiful.

A house with a beautiful brick wall.

• 煉瓦 - brick
• の - Possession particle
• 壁 - wall
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• 家 - house

版画は美しい芸術形式です。

Hanga wa utsukushii geijutsu keishiki desu

Engraving is a beautiful art form.

Printing is a beautiful art form.

• 版画 - engraving
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Beautiful, lovely
• 芸術 - art
• 形式 - shape, format
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)