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:

彼女の髪は真っ黒で美しいです。

Kanojo no kami wa makkuro de utsukushii desu

Her hair is black and beautiful.

• 彼女 - she
• の - of
• 髪 - hair
• は - (topic particle)
• 真っ黒 - pure black
• で - (connection particle)
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - (polite way of being)

彼女はとても美しいです。

Kanojo wa totemo utsukushii desu

She is very beautiful.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense

心が蕩けるような美しい景色です。

Kokoro ga torokeru yōna utsukushī keshiki desu

It is such a beautiful landscape that my heart melts.

It is a beautiful scenario that makes your heart.

• 心が蕩ける - means "to melt the heart" or "to feel moved"
• ような - is a particle that indicates similarity or comparison, in this case, "like"
• 美しい - means "handsome" or "beautiful"
• 景色 - means "landscape" or "view"
• です - is a particle that indicates the end of the sentence and makes it an affirmative statement

悩ましい恋愛は美しい。

Nayamashii ren'ai wa utsukushii

The annoying romance is beautiful.

• 悩ましい - means "distressing" or "worrying".
• 恋愛 - means "love" or "romance".
• 美しい - means "pretty" or "beautiful".

斑は美しい模様を持つ。

Madara wa utsukushii moyou wo motsu

Madara has a belo padrão.

The stitches have a beautiful pattern.

• 斑 - Japanese word meaning "stain"
• は - particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - Japanese adjective meaning "beautiful"
• 模様 - Japanese noun meaning "pattern" or "design"
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
• 持つ - Japanese verb meaning "to have" or "to possess"
• . - period indicating the end of the sentence

日の入りは美しいです。

Hinon'iri wa utsukushii desu

The sunset is beautiful.

The sunset is beautiful.

• 日の入り - It means "sunset" in Japanese.
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

日光は美しい自然がたくさんある場所です。

Nikkou wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan aru basho desu

Nikko is a place with a lot of beautiful nature.

• 日光 - Proper name referring to a city in Japan.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• 自然 - Noun that means "nature"
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• たくさん - Adverb that means "very"
• ある - Verb that means "to exist"
• 場所 - Noun that means "place"
• です - Linking verb that indicates the end of the sentence and formality.

日の出は美しいです。

Hinode wa utsukushii desu

The sunrise is beautiful.

• 日の出 - "Sunrise" means "nascer do sol" in Portuguese.
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 美しい - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• です - "Ser" in Japanese, used to indicate an affirmation or a formal statement

日向は美しい場所です。

Hinata wa utsukushii basho desu

Hinata is a beautiful place.

Hyuga is a beautiful place.

• 日向 - A name that refers to a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "日向".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• 場所 - Noun meaning "place" or "location".
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates a polite or polished way of expressing an idea, in this case, "is".

日本は美しい国です。

Nihon wa utsukushii kuni desu

Japan is a beautiful country.

• 日本 - Proper name, referring to the country Japan.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "Japan".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• 国 - Noun that means "country".
• です - verb "to be" in a polite and formal way.