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:

画は美しい芸術です。

Gaku wa utsukushii geijutsu desu

Painting is a beautiful art form.

Painting is fine art.

• 画 - means "painting" or "drawing".
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "painting".
• 美しい - means "beautiful" or "beautiful".
• 芸術 - means "art".
• です - is a polite way of saying "is" or "is".

王女は美しいです。

Oujo wa utsukushii desu

A princesa é bonita.

A princesa é linda.

• 王女 - "oujo" - significa "princesa"
• は - "wa" - Topic particle
• 美しい - "utsukushii" - significa "bonita"
• です - desu - polite way of "being"

生ける花は美しいです。

Ikeru hana wa utsukushii desu

The living flowers are beautiful.

The vibrant flowers are beautiful.

• 生ける花 - ikeru hana (alive flower, flower arranged in a vase)
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful (pretty, nice)
• です - desu (verb to be)

焦がしたご飯は美味しくないです。

Kogashita gohan wa oishikunai desu

Burnt rice is not tasty.

The steamed rice is not delicious.

• 焦がした - queimado
• ご飯 - rice
• は - Topic particle
• 美味しく - delicious
• ない - negation
• です - polite way of being/being

煉瓦の壁が美しい家。

Renga no kabe ga utsukushii ie

The house with a brick wall is beautiful.

A house with a beautiful brick wall.

• 煉瓦 - brick
• の - Possession particle
• 壁 - wall
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• 家 - house

版画は美しい芸術形式です。

Hanga wa utsukushii geijutsu keishiki desu

Engraving is a beautiful art form.

Printing is a beautiful art form.

• 版画 - gravura
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Beautiful, lovely
• 芸術 - art
• 形式 - shape, format
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

温室で育てた野菜は美味しいです。

Onshitsu de sodateta yasai wa oishii desu

Greenhouse-grown vegetables are delicious.

The vegetables grown in the greenhouse are delicious.

• 温室 - greenhouse
• で - in
• 育てた - cultivado
• 野菜 - vegetais
• は - is
• 美味しい - delicious
• です - it is

源泉は清らかで美しいです。

Gensen wa kiyora ka de utsukushii desu

The fountain is pure and beautiful.

The fountain is pure and beautiful.

• 源泉 (Gensen) - Thermal spring
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 清らか (kiyora ka) - pure, clean
• で (de) - connecting particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - pretty, beautiful
• です (desu) - polite way of being

灰色の空が美しいです。

Haiiro no sora ga utsukushii desu

The gray sky is beautiful.

The gray sky is beautiful.

• 灰色の - adjective that means "gray"
• 空 - noun meaning "heaven"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous way of saying "is"

炙った肉は美味しかったです。

Aburutta niku wa oishikatta desu

A carne que foi grelhada estava deliciosa.

A carne assada estava deliciosa.

• 炙った (aburatta) - verbo no passado que significa "grelhado"
• 肉 (niku) - noun that means "meat"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 美味しかった (oishikatta) - verbo no passado que significa "estava delicioso"
• です (desu) - verbo auxiliar que indica a formalidade da frase