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:

倹約は美徳です。

Ken'yaku wa bitoku desu

Frugality is a virtue.

Frugal is a virtue.

• 倹約 - It means "economy" or "frugality" in Japanese.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the theme of the sentence.
• 美徳 - It means "virtue" or "merit" in Japanese.
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

仏像は美しいです。

Butsuzou wa utsukushii desu

The Buddha statues are beautiful.

The Buddha statue is beautiful.

• 仏像 - represents the word "Buddha" in Japanese and refers to an image or statue of Buddha.
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "Buddha" or "Buddha statue".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

人造の花は美しいです。

Jinzou no hana wa utsukushii desu

Artificial flowers are beautiful.

Artificial flowers are beautiful.

• 人造の花 - It means "artificial flowers."
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "artificial flowers".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.

乙女は美しいです。

Otome wa utsukushii desu

Young women are beautiful.

The maiden is beautiful.

• 乙女 - means "girl" or "maiden".
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the girl".
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

丘の上から眺める景色は美しいです。

oka no ue kara nagameru keshiki wa utsukushii desu

The view of the hill top is beautiful.

The view of the hill is beautiful.

• 丘の上から - from the top of the hill
• 眺める - observe
• 景色 - landscape
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - is (statement particle)

三日月が輝く夜空は美しいです。

Mikazuki ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu

The night when the crescent moon shines is beautiful.

The night sky where the crescent moon shines is beautiful.

• 三日月 - means "crescent moon" and is represented by the ideogram 三日月.
• が - grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "crescent moon".
• 輝く - verb that means "to shine" and is represented by the ideogram 輝く.
• 夜空 - means "night sky" and is represented by the characters 夜空.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "night sky".
• 美しい - adjective that means "beautiful" and is represented by the ideogram 美しい.
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence.

ヨーロッパは美しい場所です。

Yōroppa wa utsukushii basho desu

Europe is a beautiful place.

Europe is a beautiful place.

• ヨーロッパ - Europe
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - pretty, beautiful
• 場所 - place
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

レストランで美味しい食事を楽しみました。

Resutoran de oishii shokuji wo tanoshimimashita

I enjoyed a delicious meal at the restaurant.

I enjoyed a delicious meal at the restaurant.

• レストラン (resutoran) - restaurant
• で (de) - in
• 美味しい (oishii) - delicious
• 食事 (shokuji) - meal
• を (wo) - direct object
• 楽しみました (tanoshimimashita) - took advantage, enjoyed

ロマンチックな夜景が美しいです。

Romanchikku na yakei ga utsukushii desu

The romantic night landscape is beautiful.

The romantic night view is beautiful.

• ロマンチックな - Romantic (adjective meaning "romantic")
• 夜景が - Yakei ga (noun meaning "night view")
• 美しいです - Beautiful (adjective that means "beautiful" and verb that indicates "to be" in the present)

ふんだんに使われる食材は美味しいです。

Fundayni tsukawareru shokuzai wa oishii desu

The ingredients used in abundance are delicious.

The ingredients used in abundance are delicious.

• ふんだんに - adverb meaning "abundantly"
• 使われる - verb in the passive form meaning "to be used"
• 食材 - noun meaning "food ingredients"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 美味しい - adjective meaning "delicious"
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of speech