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

ハンサム

hansamu

beautiful

好い

yoi

good

優美

yuubi

grace; refinement; elegance

美

beauty

美人

bijin

beautiful person (female)

映える

haeru

shine; look attractive; look beautiful

素敵

suteki

adorable; dreamer; beautiful; great; fantastic; superb; cool; awesome

奇麗

kirei

beautiful; clean; good; Tidy; beautiful; fair

極めて

kiwamete

overly; extremely

絹

kinu

silk

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.

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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:

風に舞う花びらが美しいです。

Kaze ni mau hanabira ga utsukushii desu

The petals dancing in the wind are beautiful.

風に舞う - meaning "dancing in the wind", is an expression that describes the action of flower petals being carried by the wind.
花びら - means "flower petals".
が - is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "flower petals".
美しい - means "beautiful".
です - is a grammatical particle that indicates the end of a sentence and is also used to indicate respect or formality.

非常に美しい景色ですね。

Hijou ni utsukushii keshiki desu ne

The landscape is very beautiful

It is a very beautiful landscape.

非常に - adverb meaning "very"
美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
景色 - noun meaning "landscape"
です - Verb "to be" in polite form
ね - particle indicating confirmation or seeking confirmation

雫は美しいです。

Shizuku wa utsukushii desu

The drop is beautiful.

The drops are beautiful.

雫 - means "drop" in Japanese
は - Japanese topic particle
美しい - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating a formal statement

金魚は美しいです。

Kingyo wa utsukushii desu

Goldfish is beautiful.

金魚 - "Kingyo" in Japanese means "goldfish" in English.
は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "goldfish."
美しい - Japanese adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
です - Japanese verb that means "to be" or "to exist" and is used to indicate the polite or formal form.

霞む空が美しいです。

Kasumu sora ga utsukushii desu

The cloudy sky is beautiful.

霞む - hazy, blurry
空 - sky
が - subject particle
美しい - pretty, beautiful
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

音色が美しい曲を聴くのが好きです。

Onsoku ga utsukushii kyoku wo kiku no ga suki desu

I like listening to music with beautiful tones.

音色 - som/timbre
が - subject particle
美しい - beautiful
曲 - music
を - direct object particle
聴く - to hear
の - nominal particle
が - subject particle
好き - like
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

高原には美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Takahara ni wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

There is a lot of beautiful nature on the plateau.

高原 - plateau
には - indicates the location of the phrase
美しい - beautiful
自然 - nature
が - subject particle
たくさん - many
あります - exists

髪が長い女性は美しいです。

Kami ga nagai josei wa utsukushii desu

Women with long hair are beautiful.

髪が長い - long hair
女性 - woman
美しい - beautiful
です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

線は美しいデザインを作り出す重要な要素です。

Sen wa utsukushii dezain wo tsukuri dasu juuyou na youso desu

Line is an important factor in creating a beautiful design.

線 - means "line" in Japanese
は - Japanese topic particle
美しい - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
デザイン - borrowed from the English word for "design"
を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
作り出す - verb meaning "to create" or "to produce" in Japanese
重要な - 重要 (じゅうよう)
要素 - noun meaning "element" or "component" in Japanese
です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a statement or affirmation