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:

加留多は美しい名前です。

Karuuta wa utsukushii namae desu

Kasuta is a beautiful name.

• 加留多 - first name in Japanese
• は - Topic marking particle
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 名前 - noun meaning "name"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

反りがある刀は美しいです。

Kawari ga aru katana wa utsukushii desu

A curved sword is beautiful.

The deformed sword is beautiful.

• 反りがある - curvado
• 刀 - espada
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

古い寺は美しいです。

Furui tera wa utsukushii desu

Old temples are beautiful.

The old temple is beautiful.

• 古い - antigo
• 寺 - templo
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - verb ser/estar (polite)

各地で美しい景色を見ることができます。

Kakuchi de utsukushii keshiki wo miru koto ga dekimasu

Você pode ver belas paisagens em vários lugares.

• 各地で - em cada lugar
• 美しい - beautiful
• 景色 - landscape
• を - direct object particle
• 見る - ver
• ことができます - é possível

国定公園は美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Kokutei kōen wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

Kokutei National Park has a lot of beautiful nature.

Kokusai Park tem muita natureza bonita.

• 国定公園 - National park
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Bonito
• 自然 - Natureza
• が - Subject particle
• たくさん - Very
• あります - Existem

堪らない美味しさです。

Kararanai oishisa desu

It is an unbearable delight.

It is an unbearable flavor.

• 堪らない - unbearable, intolerable
• 美味しさ - delicious, delicious taste
• です - yes, it is

夕暮れ時の西日が美しいです。

Yuugureji no nishibi ga utsukushii desu

The west sun of the west is beautiful during twilight.

West day at dusk is beautiful.

• 夕暮れ時 - moment of dusk
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 西日 - sunlight that strikes from the west
• が - particle that indicates subject
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

大空は美しいです。

Ōzora wa utsukushii desu

The sky is beautiful.

The sky is beautiful.

• 大空 - means "wide sky" or "vast sky".
• は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the sky.
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

彼女の体付きはスリムで美しいです。

Kanojo no karada tsuki wa surimu de utsukushii desu

Seu corpo é esbelto e bonito.

• 彼女 - She
• の - Possessive particle
• 体付き - Forma do corpo
• は - Topic particle
• スリム - Magro
• で - connecting particle
• 美しい - Bonito
• です - Completion particle

彼女の髪は真っ黒で美しいです。

Kanojo no kami wa makkuro de utsukushii desu

Her hair is black and beautiful.

• 彼女 - she
• の - of
• 髪 - hair
• は - (topic particle)
• 真っ黒 - pure black
• で - (connection particle)
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - (polite way of being)