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:

女子は強くて美しいです。

Onna no ko wa tsuyokute utsukushii desu

Women are strong and beautiful.

The girls are strong and beautiful.

• 女子 (joshi) - means "women" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "women"
• 強くて (tsuyokute) - adverb meaning "strong" or "powerful", used here as an adjective to describe women
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "pretty", used here to describe women
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

女性は強くて美しいです。

Josei wa tsuyokute utsukushii desu

Women are strong and beautiful.

Women are strong and beautiful.

• 女性 (josei) - means "woman" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case "woman"
• 強くて (tsuyokute) - Adverb that means "strong" or "powerful", used here to describe the woman.
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "pretty" or "beautiful", used here to describe the woman
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating the existence or state of something, in this case, the strong and beautiful woman

夕暮れが静かで美しいです。

Yuugure ga shizuka de utsukushii desu

The sunset is quiet and beautiful.

The twilight is quiet and beautiful.

• 夕暮れ (yūgure) - means "twilight" or "sunset"
• が (ga) - grammatical particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 静か (shizuka) - means "silent" or "calm"
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the condition or means in which something occurs
• 美しい (utsukushii) - means "handsome" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - an educated and polite way to affirm something in Japanese

四季の移り変わりが美しい。

Shiki no utsuri kawari ga utsukushii

The change of the four seasons is beautiful.

The change of the four seasons is beautiful.

• 四季 (しき) - this word means "seasons of the year".
• の - this is a particle that indicates possession or relation between words.
• 移り変わり (うつりかわり) - this word means "change, alternation, transition".
• が - this is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 美しい (うつくしい) - this word means "pretty, beautiful, charming."

和文は美しいです。

Wabun wa utsukushii desu

Japanese writing is beautiful.

Japanese is beautiful.

• 和文 - means "Japanese writing" or "text in Japanese."
• は - is a grammatical particle that marks the topic of the sentence.
• 美しい - means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar".

善行は美しい。

Zengyō wa utsukushii

The virtuous conduct is beautiful.

Good luck is beautiful.

• 善行 - "good deeds"
• は - topic particle in Japanese.
• 美しい - It means "pretty" in Japanese.
• .

南北に広がる景色は美しいです。

Nanboku ni hirogaru keshiki wa utsukushii desu

A vista que se estende ao sul e ao norte é linda.

O cenário que se espalhou para o norte e o sul é lindo.

• 南北に - indica a direção norte-sul
• 広がる - verbo que significa "se espalhar" ou "se estender"
• 景色 - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verbo de ligação que indica o tempo presente e a formalidade

南米は美しい大陸です。

Nanbei wa utsukushii tairiku desu

South America is a beautiful continent.

South America is a beautiful continent.

• 南米 - name of the South American continent
• は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the South American continent
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 大陸 - noun meaning "continent"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

優美な花が咲いている。

Yuumi na hana ga saite iru

Beautiful flowers are blooming.

An elegant flower is blooming.

• 優美な - adjective meaning "elegant" or "graceful"
• 花 - noun meaning "flower"
• が - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 咲いている - verb meaning "to be blooming" or "to be in flower" in the present continuous tense

光る星が美しいです。

Hikaru hoshi ga utsukushii desu

The bright stars are beautiful.

The bright stars are beautiful.

• 光る - brilhante
• 星 - star
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense