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:

この字体は美しいですね。

Kono jitai wa utsukushii desu ne

This source is beautiful

This source is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 字体 - noun that means "font" or "style of writing"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb to be in the polite form
• ね - particle at the end of a sentence that indicates confirmation or seeks agreement

この曲の節はとても美しいです。

Kono kyoku no fushi wa totemo utsukushii desu

The clause of this song is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 曲 - noun meaning "music"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 節 - noun meaning "stretch" or "section"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form

この絵は美しい着色がされています。

Kono e wa utsukushii chakushoku ga sarete imasu

This painting has a beautiful color.

This image is beautifully colored.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 絵 - noun that means "painting" or "drawing"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 着色 - noun that means "coloring" or "painting"
• が - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• されています - passive verb in the polite form meaning "was done" or "was painted"

この結晶は美しいですね。

Kono kesshō wa utsukushī desu ne

This crystallization is beautiful

This crystal is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 結晶 - noun that means "crystal"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb to be/in shape polite
• ね - ending particle indicating a rhetorical question or confirmation

この風景は美しいです。

Kono fuukei wa utsukushii desu

This landscape is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 風景 - The noun that means "landscape" or "scenery".
• は - topic particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case, "this landscape"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" in a polite and formal way

この光景は美しいです。

Kono koukei wa utsukushii desu

This scene is beautiful.

This view is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 光景 - noun that means "scene" or "landscape"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb to be in the present, indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and that the scene is beautiful

この地名はとても美しいです。

Kono chimei wa totemo utsukushii desu

This place name is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 地名 - noun that means "name of place"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - verb to be in the polite form

この塔はとても美しいです。

Kono tou wa totemo utsukushii desu

This tower is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 塔 - noun that means "tower"
• は - topic particle that indicates that "this tower" is the subject of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です - verb to be in the present tense

この地点には美しい景色が見えます。

Kono chiten ni wa utsukushii keshiki ga miemasu

In this place

You can see a beautiful landscape at this time.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 地点 - noun that means "point" or "location"
• に - particle that indicates "in" or "at"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "this point"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 景色 - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "the beautiful landscape"
• 見えます - verb that means "can be seen"

この字は美しいですね。

Kono ji wa utsukushii desu ne

This letter is beautiful

This character is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 字 - kanji which means "character" or "letter"
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• ね - particle of confirmation or agreement