Translation and Meaning of: 美 - bi

The Japanese word 「美」, read as "bi" in romaji, represents the concept of beauty. It is fundamental in Japanese culture and aesthetics, playing a central role in the appreciation of art, design, and nature. Beauty, or 「美」, is seen as a harmonious combination of simplicity, subtlety, and elegance, reflected in various forms such as ikebana (flower arrangement) and wabi-sabi, which values the beauty of imperfection.

Etymologically, the kanji 「美」 is composed of two main elements: 「羊」, which means sheep, and 「大」, which means big. In ancient times, sheep were considered precious animals, and their association with the size "big" suggested something of inestimable value. Thus, the composition of the elements suggests that beauty was perceived as something of great worth. This interpretation may still seem abstract, but it demonstrates the evolution of the concept of beauty associated with preciousness and cultural value in Japanese tradition.

The Japanese language also contains various variations and words derived from 「美」. For example, 「美しい」(utsukushii) is an adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty," widely used to describe landscapes, people, and works of art. Another variation is 「美人」(bijin), which refers to a beautiful person, usually used to describe women. The concept of beauty encapsulated by 「美」 is not just visual; it is deeply integrated into the aesthetic and emotional experience, being a vital part of garden design, tea ceremonies, and even the presentation of meals in Japan.

Cultural Meaning of 「美」

• In Japan, beauty is often associated with ephemeral moments, such as the changing of seasons or the blossoming of cherry trees, encapsulating the perfect balance between permanence and transience.
• The term also reflects profound aesthetic values in the principles of respecting harmony and simplicity in the creation and appreciation of art.
• The idea of arigata-meiwaku, which means accepting an undue favor that causes problems but appreciating it for the beautiful gesture, reflects the intricate understanding and respect for beauty in social interactions.

Furthermore, 「美」 plays a central role in Zen philosophy, where true beauty is perceived through meditation and a life of simplicity. The expression is truly emblematic of how Japanese cultural values and traditions shape and define the perception of aesthetics. It encourages people to find beauty in everything around them, even in the simplest and most everyday things.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 美しい (Utsukushii) - Pretty, cute
• 美麗 (Birei) - Extremely beautiful, elegant
• 美観 (Bikan) - Aesthetic appearance, visual beauty
• 美貌 (Bibō) - Beautiful appearance, physical beauty
• 美形 (Bikei) - Beautiful shape, beautiful form
• 美意識 (Biishiki) - Aesthetic consciousness, perception of beauty
• 美意識的 (Biishikiteki) - Regarding aesthetic consciousness
• 美的 (Biteki) - Aesthetic, related to beauty
• 美学的 (Bigakuteki) - Aesthetic in terms of the philosophy of beauty
• 美術的 (Bijutsuteki) - Regarding the arts, especially visual arts
• 美容的 (Biyōteki) - Regarding beauty and personal care
• 美食的 (Bishokuteki) - Aesthetic gastronomy, beautiful food
• 美徳的 (Bitokuteki) - Virtuoso, related to aesthetic virtues
• 美味的 (Bōiteki) - Delicious, tasty
• 美姿勢 (Bisise) - Beautiful posture, aesthetic posture
• 美姿 (Biji) - Beautiful form, attractive appearance
• 美姿容 (Bijiyō) - Beautiful appearance, external beauty
• 美姿形 (Bishikei) - Aesthetic form, beauty of form
• 美姿美 (Bijibi) - Triple beauty, beauty from all perspectives
• 美姿美形 (Bijibikei) - Beauty in form and appearance
• 美姿美貌 (Bijibibō) - Beauty and attractive appearance
• 美姿端麗 (Biji Tanrei) - Elegance in beauty
• 美姿端麗な (Biji Tanrein na) - To be elegantly beautiful
• 美姿端麗なる (Biji Tanrein naru) - To have an elegantly beautiful nature

美

Romaji: bi
Kana: び
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: beauty

Meaning in English: beauty

Definition: Beauty: Word that refers to something beautiful or aesthetic.

Example Sentences - (美) bi

See below some example sentences:

デコレーションがとても美しいです。

Dekorēshon ga totemo utsukushii desu

The decoration is very beautiful.

The decoration is very beautiful.

• デコレーション (dekoreeshon) - decoration
• が (ga) - subject particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

デッサンは美術の基礎です。

Dessan wa bijutsu no kiso desu

Dessan is the basis of art.

Dessan is the basis of art.

• デッサン - drawing
• は - Topic particle
• 美術 - beautiful beaches
• の - Possessive particle
• 基礎 - foundation, base
• です - verb "to be", indicating affirmation or politeness

スターは美しいです。

Sutā wa utsukushii desu

The stars are beautiful.

The star is beautiful.

• スター (suta-) - star
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

その花の色は鮮やかで美しいです。

sono hana no iro wa azayaka de utsukushii desu

The color of that flower is vibrant and beautiful.

The color of the flower is bright and beautiful.

• その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 花 - noun meaning "flower"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 色 - noun that means "color"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 鮮やか - adjective that means "vibrant" or "intense"
• で - particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verbo que indica a forma educada ou formal do presente

この川の流れはとても美しいです。

Kono kawa no nagare wa totemo utsukushii desu

The current of this river is very beautiful.

The flow of this river is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 川 - noun meaning "river"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 流れ - noun that means "flow" or "current"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - linking verb that indicates the polite and formal form of the present

この店の陳列はとても美しいです。

Kono mise no chinretsu wa totemo utsukushii desu

The display of this store is very beautiful.

The display of this store is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 店 - noun that means "store" or "commercial establishment"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of the store"
• 陳列 - noun that means "exhibition" or "disposition of products in a store"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "the exhibition"
• とても - adverb meaning "very" or "extremely"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous way of affirming something, in this case "is"

この文章の文体はとても美しいです。

Kono bunshou no buntai wa totemo utsukushii desu

The writing of this text is very beautiful.

The style of this sentence is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 文章 - noun meaning "text" or "written"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 文体 - noun meaning "writing style" or "literary style"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very" or "extremely"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb ser/estar in the present, used to indicate formality and courtesy in the Japanese language

この本の表紙は美しいです。

Kono hon no hyōshi wa utsukushii desu

The cover of this book is beautiful.

The cover of this book is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 本 - noun meaning "book"
• の - particle that indicates ownership, in this case, "of the book"
• 表紙 - noun meaning "cover (of a book)"
• は - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case "the cover"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - linking verb that indicates the state or quality of the subject, in this case, "is"

この部屋の装飾は美しいです。

Kono heya no sōshoku wa utsukushii desu

The decoration of this room is beautiful.

The decoration in this room is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 部屋 - noun that means "room" or "hall"
• の - partícula de posse que indica que o substantivo anterior é o possuidor
• 装飾 - noun that means "decoration" or "ornament"
• は - topic particle indicating that the preceding noun is the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - linking verb indicating the existence or state of something

このアイスクリームは滑らかでとても美味しいです。

Kono aisukurīmu wa subaraka de totemo oishii desu

This ice cream is smooth and very delicious.

This ice cream is smooth and very delicious.

• この - indicates that something is near or present, in this case "this"
• アイスクリーム - "ice cream" in Japanese
• は - particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "ice cream"
• 滑らか - "soft" or "smooth"
• で - particle indicating the means or method, in this case "de"
• とても - "very"
• 美味しい - "delicious" or "tasty"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense