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:
Gensen wa kiyora ka de utsukushii desu
The fountain is pure and beautiful.
The fountain is pure and beautiful.
- 源泉 (Gensen) - Thermal spring
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 清らか (kiyora ka) - pure, clean
- で (de) - connecting particle
- 美しい (utsukushii) - pretty, beautiful
- です (desu) - polite way of being
Haiiro no sora ga utsukushii desu
The gray sky is beautiful.
The gray sky is beautiful.
- 灰色の - adjective that means "gray"
- 空 - noun meaning "heaven"
- が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
- です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous way of saying "is"
Dansui wa Taiwan no hokubu ni aru utsukushii koumachi desu
Danshui is a beautiful port city located in the northern part of Taiwan.
Tamami is a beautiful port city in the northern part of Taiwan.
- 淡水 - Name of the city of Tamsui
- は - Topic particle
- 台湾 - Taiwan
- の - Possessive particle
- 北部 - Region norte
- に - Location particle
- ある - Verb "to be" in the present
- 美しい - Adjective "beautiful"
- 港町 - harbor
- です - Verb "to be" in the present
Konpou shita iro wa utsukushii desu
Mixed colors are beautiful.
The mixed color is beautiful.
- 混合した - mixed
- 色 - color
- は - Topic particle
- 美しい - beautiful
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Enkou ni wa utsukushii keshiki ga hirogatte imasu
Along the coast
The beautiful landscape is spreading along the coast.
- 沿岸 (engan) - Coast, shoreline
- に (ni) - particle indicating location
- は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
- 景色 (keishiki) - landscape, view
- が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- 広がっています (hirogatteimasu) - extends, spreads
Mori wa utsukushii shizen no okurimono desu
The forest is a beautiful gift from nature.
The forest is a beautiful natural gift.
- 森 (mori) - forest
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
- 自然 (shizen) - nature
- の (no) - Possession particle
- 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
Sugi no ki wa utsukushii desu
The cedar tree is beautiful.
The Sugi trees are beautiful.
- 杉の木 - suginoki (Japanese cedar tree)
- は - wa (topic particle)
- 美しい - utsukushii (bonito)
- です - be (verb to be in polite form)
Tōzai ni hirogaru keshiki wa utsukushii desu
The landscape that extends from east to west is beautiful.
The scenario that spreads the east and west is beautiful.
- 東西 - means "east-west".
- に - Title that indicates direction or location.
- 広がる - verb meaning "to spread" or "to extend".
- 景色 - Noun that means "landscape" or "view".
- は - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
- 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
- です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous way of stating something.
Matsu no ki wa utsukushii desu
The pine tree is beautiful.
Pine trees are beautiful.
- 松の木 - It means "pine tree" in Japanese.
- は - Topic particle
- 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form
Saikō mo utsukushii hana wa sakura desu
The most beautiful flower is the cherry tree.
The most beautiful flower is cherry flowers.
- 最も - more
- 美しい - beautiful
- 花 - flower
- は - is
- 桜 - cherry blossom
- です - is (polite way of putting it)