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:

この館は美しいです。

Kono yakata wa utsukushii desu

This mansion is beautiful.

This hall is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 館 - noun meaning "building"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - linking verb indicating the existence or state of something

この首飾りは美しいですね。

Kono kubikazari wa utsukushii desu ne

This choker is beautiful

This necklace is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 首飾り - noun meaning "glue"
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - verb to be in the polite form
• ね - ending particle indicating confirmation or a search for agreement

この場所はとても美しいです。

Kono basho wa totemo utsukushii desu

This place is very beautiful.

• この場所 - this place
• は - wa (topic particle)
• とても - totemo (muito)
• 美しい - utsukushii (bonito)
• です - is (verb to be in the present)

この曲はとても美しいです。

Kono kyoku wa totemo utsukushii desu

This song is very beautiful.

This song is very beautiful.

• この曲 - "kono kyoku" means "this music"
• は - "wa" is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• とても - "totemo" means "very"
• 美しい - "utsukushii" means "beautiful".
• です - "desu" is a polite form of saying "to be" or "to exist"

この棟はとても美しいです。

Kono mune wa totemo utsukushii desu

This construction is very beautiful.

This building is very beautiful.

• この棟 - "kono mune" - This building
• は - wa- Topic particle
• とても - totem - Very
• 美しい - "utsukushii" - pretty
• です - desu - Ser/estar (polite form)

こんなに美しい景色は初めて見た。

Konna ni utsukushii keshiki wa hajimete mita

I've never seen such a beautiful landscape before.

I saw such a beautiful landscape for the first time.

• こんなに - adverb that means "so"
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• 景色 - noun meaning "landscape"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 初めて - adverb meaning "for the first time"
• 見た - verb in the past that means "saw"

ぴかぴか輝く星空が美しいです。

Pikapika kagayaku hoshizora ga utsukushii desu

The bright starry sky is beautiful.

• ぴかぴか - shiny, sparkling
• 輝く - shine, glitter
• 星空 - Starlit sky
• 美しい - pretty, beautiful
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

ベルの音色は美しいです。

Beru no neiro wa utsukushii desu

The sound of the bell is beautiful.

The doorbell tone is beautiful.

• ベル - Bell
• の - Possessive particle
• 音色 - Timbre
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - pretty
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

モデルは美しさと自信を与えてくれる。

Moderu wa utsukushisa to jishin o ataete kureru

Models bring beauty and confidence.

The model offers beauty and confidence.

• モデル - model
• は - Topic particle
• 美しさ - beauty
• と - connecting particle
• 自信 - Confidence
• を - direct object particle
• 与えてくれる - give (to me)

一帯には美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Ittai ni wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

There are a lot of beautiful nature in the area.

• 一帯 - region, area
• には - particle indicating location
• 美しい - Beautiful, nice
• 自然 - nature
• が - particle that indicates subject
• たくさん - many, much
• あります - exist, be present