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:

嬢は美しいです。

Jou wa utsukushii desu

The young woman is beautiful.

Miss is beautiful.

• 嬢 (jo) - means "young woman" or "girl"
• は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that "jo" is the theme of the sentence
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - verb "to be" in the present, indicates that the sentence is in the present tense and is a polite statement

宝石は美しいです。

Hōseki wa utsukushii desu

The jewelry is beautiful.

The jewelry is beautiful.

• 宝石 (hōseki) - It means "precious stone" or "jewel".
• は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "gemstone"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

夫人はとても美しいです。

Fujin wa totemo utsukushii desu

The wife is very beautiful.

Mrs. It's very beautiful.

• 夫人 - means "wife" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
• とても - adverb in Japanese that means "very".
• 美しい - adjective in Japanese that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - The verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence or characteristic of something.

女の人はとても美しいです。

Onna no hito wa totemo utsukushii desu

The women are very beautiful.

The woman is very beautiful.

• 女の人 - means "woman" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "woman".
• とても - it's an adverb that means "very".
• 美しい - it's an adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - it is a grammatical particle that indicates the formality of the sentence and can be translated as "is".

女子は強くて美しいです。

Onna no ko wa tsuyokute utsukushii desu

Women are strong and beautiful.

The girls are strong and beautiful.

• 女子 (joshi) - means "women" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "women"
• 強くて (tsuyokute) - adverb meaning "strong" or "powerful", used here as an adjective to describe women
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "pretty", used here to describe women
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

女性は強くて美しいです。

Josei wa tsuyokute utsukushii desu

Women are strong and beautiful.

Women are strong and beautiful.

• 女性 (josei) - means "woman" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case "woman"
• 強くて (tsuyokute) - Adverb that means "strong" or "powerful", used here to describe the woman.
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "pretty" or "beautiful", used here to describe the woman
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating the existence or state of something, in this case, the strong and beautiful woman

夕暮れが静かで美しいです。

Yuugure ga shizuka de utsukushii desu

The sunset is quiet and beautiful.

The twilight is quiet and beautiful.

• 夕暮れ (yūgure) - means "twilight" or "sunset"
• が (ga) - grammatical particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 静か (shizuka) - means "silent" or "calm"
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the condition or means in which something occurs
• 美しい (utsukushii) - means "handsome" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - an educated and polite way to affirm something in Japanese

四季の移り変わりが美しい。

Shiki no utsuri kawari ga utsukushii

The change of the four seasons is beautiful.

The change of the four seasons is beautiful.

• 四季 (しき) - this word means "seasons of the year".
• の - this is a particle that indicates possession or relation between words.
• 移り変わり (うつりかわり) - this word means "change, alternation, transition".
• が - this is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 美しい (うつくしい) - this word means "pretty, beautiful, charming."

和文は美しいです。

Wabun wa utsukushii desu

Japanese writing is beautiful.

Japanese is beautiful.

• 和文 - means "Japanese writing" or "text in Japanese."
• は - is a grammatical particle that marks the topic of the sentence.
• 美しい - means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar".

善行は美しい。

Zengyō wa utsukushii

The virtuous conduct is beautiful.

Good luck is beautiful.

• 善行 - "good deeds"
• は - topic particle in Japanese.
• 美しい - It means "pretty" in Japanese.
• .