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

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

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:

あんなに美しい花が咲いている。

Annani utsukushii hana ga saite iru

So beautiful flowers are blooming.

Such beautiful flowers are blooming.

• あんなに - word in Japanese that means "so"
• 美しい - adjetivo em japonês que significa "bonito"
• 花 - noun in Japanese that means "flower"
• が - Particle in Japanese that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 咲いている - verb in Japanese that means "to bloom" in the present continuous

オルガンの音色は美しいです。

O rugan no neiro wa utsukushii desu

The sound of the organ is beautiful.

The organ tone is beautiful.

• オルガン - organ
• の - Possession particle
• 音色 - timbre, sound quality
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Beautiful, lovely
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

カレーはとても美味しいです。

Karee wa totemo oishii desu

The curry is very delicious.

Curry is very delicious.

• カレー (karē) - curry
• は (wa) - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• とても (totemo) - muito, extremamente
• 美味しい (oishii) - delicioso, saboroso
• です (desu) - polite copula, similar to "is" or "am" in English

このブローチはとても美しいです。

Kono burōchi wa totemo utsukushii desu

Esta broche é muito bonita.

Este broche é muito bonito.

• この - demonstrative pronoun "this"
• ブローチ - substantivo "broche"
• は - Topic particle
• とても - adverb "very"
• 美しい - adjetivo "bonito"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

この映像は美しいです。

Kono eizou wa utsukushii desu

This image is beautiful.

This video is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 映像 - noun meaning "image"
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

この出来物は美味しいですか？

Kono dekibutsu wa oishii desu ka?

Is this creation delicious?

Is this source delicious?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 出来物 - noun "thing made, product"
• は - Topic particle
• 美味しい - Adjective "delicious"
• です - verb "ser/estar" in the polite form
• か - interrogative particle

この料理の味はとても美味しいです。

Kono ryōri no aji wa totemo oishii desu

O sabor deste prato é muito delicioso.

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 料理 - substantivo "prato, comida"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 味 - substantivo "sabor"
• は - partícula de tópico "é sobre"
• とても - adverb "very"
• 美味しい - Adjective "delicious"
• です - verbo "ser/estar" no presente educado

この街はとても美しいです。

Kono machi wa totemo utsukushii desu

This city is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative indicating proximity, in this case "this"
• 街 - noun meaning "city"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the city"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

この盆地は美しい景色がたくさんあります。

Kono bondi wa utsukushii keshiki ga takusan arimasu

This basin has many beautiful landscapes.

• この - demonstrative determiner meaning "this"
• 盆地 - noun meaning "basin", "valley"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "pretty", "beautiful"
• 景色 - noun meaning "landscape", "view"
• が - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• たくさん - adverb meaning "a lot", "many"
• あります - verb meaning "to exist", "to be"

この宮殿はとても美しいです。

Kono kyūden wa totemo utsukushii desu

This palace is very beautiful.

• この - this
• 宮殿 - palace
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - be (linking verb)