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
Related words
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.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (美しい) utsukushii
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (美しい) utsukushii:
Example Sentences - (美しい) utsukushii
See below some example sentences:
Nanboku ni hirogaru keshiki wa utsukushii desu
The view stretching south and north is beautiful.
The scenery that has spread to the north and south is beautiful.
- 南北に - indicates the direction to the southeast
- 広がる - verb meaning "to spread" or "to extend"
- 景色 - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
- 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
- です - linking verb indicating present tense and formality
Nanbei wa utsukushii tairiku desu
South America is a beautiful continent.
South America is a beautiful continent.
- 南米 - name of the South American continent
- は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the South American continent
- 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
- 大陸 - noun meaning "continent"
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form
Hikaru hoshi ga utsukushii desu
The bright stars are beautiful.
The bright stars are beautiful.
- 光る - brillant
- 星 - star
- が - subject particle
- 美しい - beautiful
- です - Verb "to be" in the present tense
Butsuzou wa utsukushii desu
The Buddha statues are beautiful.
The Buddha statue is beautiful.
- 仏像 - represents the word "Buddha" in Japanese and refers to an image or statue of Buddha.
- は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "Buddha" or "Buddha statue".
- 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form.
Jinzou no hana wa utsukushii desu
Artificial flowers are beautiful.
Artificial flowers are beautiful.
- 人造の花 - It means "artificial flowers."
- は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "artificial flowers".
- 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
- です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.
Otome wa utsukushii desu
Young women are beautiful.
The maiden is beautiful.
- 乙女 - means "girl" or "maiden".
- は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the girl".
- 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful".
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form.
oka no ue kara nagameru keshiki wa utsukushii desu
The view of the hill top is beautiful.
The view of the hill is beautiful.
- 丘の上から - from the top of the hill
- 眺める - observe
- 景色 - landscape
- 美しい - beautiful
- です - is (statement particle)
Mikazuki ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu
The night when the crescent moon shines is beautiful.
The night sky where the crescent moon shines is beautiful.
- 三日月 - means "crescent moon" and is represented by the ideogram 三日月.
- が - grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "crescent moon".
- 輝く - verb that means "to shine" and is represented by the ideogram 輝く.
- 夜空 - means "night sky" and is represented by the characters 夜空.
- は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "night sky".
- 美しい - adjective that means "beautiful" and is represented by the ideogram 美しい.
- です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence.
Yōroppa wa utsukushii basho desu
Europe is a beautiful place.
Europe is a beautiful place.
- ヨーロッパ - Europe
- は - Topic particle
- 美しい - pretty, beautiful
- 場所 - place
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Romanchikku na yakei ga utsukushii desu
The romantic night landscape is beautiful.
The romantic night view is beautiful.
- ロマンチックな - Romantic (adjective meaning "romantic")
- 夜景が - Yakei ga (noun meaning "night view")
- 美しいです - Beautiful (adjective that means "beautiful" and verb that indicates "to be" in the present)