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:

砂漠は美しいです。

Sabaku wa utsukushii desu

The desert is beautiful.

The desert is beautiful.

• 砂漠 (さばく) - Deserto
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい (うつくしい) - Bonito
• です - Copula particle

私の女房はとても美しいです。

Watashi no nyoubou wa totemo utsukushii desu

My wife is very beautiful.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 女房 - noun "wife"
• は - topic particle "は"
• とても - adverb "very"
• 美しい - adjective "beautiful"
• です - verbo "ser" (forma educada)

私の嫁はとても美しいです。

Watashi no yome wa totemo utsukushii desu

My wife is very beautiful.

My bride is very beautiful.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, in this case "my"
• 嫁 (yome) - "the wife"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "my wife"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful way of speaking, in this case "is"

私の従姉妹はとても美しいです。

Watashi no jōshimai wa totemo utsukushii desu

My cousin is very beautiful.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - partícula que indica posse, neste caso, "minha"
• 従姉妹 (joushimai) - noun meaning "second cousin"
• は (wa) - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my second cousin"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私は美しいネックレスを持っています。

Watashi wa utsukushii nekkuresu o motte imasu

I have a beautiful necklace.

I have a beautiful necklace.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• ネックレス (nekkuresu) - noun meaning "glue"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "colar"
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have", conjugated in the present affirmative

私は深く自然の美しさを悟りました。

Watashi wa fukaku shizen no utsukushisa o satorimashita

I deeply understood the beauty of nature.

I realized the beauty of nature.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 深く (fukaku) - adverb meaning "deeply"
• 自然 (shizen) - Noun that means "nature"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 美しさ (utsukushisa) - noun meaning "beauty"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 悟りました (satorimashita) - verb meaning "I realized" or "I understood" (in the past tense)

私は美味しい食べ物を噛むのが好きです。

Watashi wa oishii tabemono wo kamu no ga suki desu

I like to chew delicious food.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美味しい - Japanese adjective that means "delicious"
• 食べ物 - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 噛む - Japanese verb that means "bite, chew"
• のが - particle that indicates the nominal form of a verb and functions as the subject of the sentence
• 好き - Japanese adjective that means "like"
• です - Japanese linking verb that indicates the state or condition of the subject

私の郷里は美しい町です。

Watashi no kyōri wa utsukushii machi desu

My hometown is a beautiful city.

My hometown is a beautiful city.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "mine"
• 郷里 - noun that means "homeland"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• 町 - noun meaning "city"
• です - verb that indicates to be or to exist, equivalent to "is"

私たちは美しい湾を見て散歩しました。

Watashitachi wa utsukushii wan o mite sanpo shimashita

We walked and saw a beautiful bay.

We take a walk in the beautiful bay.

• 私たち - we
• 美しい - beautiful
• 湾 - baía
• を - direct object particle
• 見て - ver
• 散歩 - to walk
• しました - made

私たちを取り巻く自然の美しさに感謝します。

Watashitachi o torimaku shizen no utsukushisa ni kansha shimasu

I am grateful for the beauty of the nature that surrounds us.

Thank you for the beauty of nature around us.

• 私たち - 「私たち」
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 取り巻く - "囲む" ou "包む" em japonês
• 自然 - 自然 (Shizen)
• の - Possessive particle in Japanese
• 美しさ - "beauty" in Japanese
• に - Destination particle in Japanese
• 感謝します - "ありがとうございます" (Arigatou gozaimasu)