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:

蒸した野菜はとても美味しいです。

Mushita yasai wa totemo oishii desu

Steamed vegetables are very tasty.

Steamed vegetables are very delicious.

• 蒸した - Verb 蒸す (mussu) in the past, which means "steamed".
• 野菜 - Noun that means "vegetables"
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても - Adverb that means "very"
• 美味しい - adjective meaning "delicious"
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

聳える山々は美しいです。

Sobieru yamayama wa utsukushii desu

The high mountains are beautiful.

The rising mountains are beautiful.

• 聳える (sobaeru) - means "to rise" or "to rise".
• 山々 (yamayama) - means "mountains".
• は (wa) - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 美しい (utsukushii) - means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the present tense and formality.

絵画は美しいです。

Egawaga wa utsukushii desu

The painting is beautiful.

The painting is beautiful.

• 絵画 (kaiga) - Painting
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

縦に並ぶ木々は美しい。

Tate ni narabu kigi wa utsukushii

The vertically aligned trees are beautiful.

The vertical trees are beautiful.

• 縦に - vertically
• 並ぶ - align
• 木々 - trees
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful

美しい景色が見える。

Utsukushii keshiki ga mieru

A beautiful landscape can be seen.

You can see the beautiful scenario.

• 美しい (utsukushii) - pretty, beautiful
• 景色 (keshiki) - landscape, view
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 見える (mieru) - to be seen, to be visible

稲光が輝く夜空は美しいです。

Inabikari ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu

The night the lightning shine is beautiful.

The night sky where the shine shines is beautiful.

• 稲光 (inabikari) - lightning
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 輝く (kagayaku) - shine
• 夜空 (yozora) - night sky
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

紺色の海が美しいです。

Koniro no umi ga utsukushii desu

The dark blue sea is beautiful.

The dark blue sea is beautiful.

• 紺色 - navy blue color
• の - Possession particle
• 海 - sea
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - verb ser/estar (polite form)

私は美しい景色を描くことが好きです。

Watashi wa utsukushii keshiki wo egaku koto ga suki desu

I enjoy drawing beautiful landscapes.

I enjoy drawing beautiful landscapes.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 景色 (keshiki) - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 描く (egaku) - verb that means "to draw" or "to paint"
• こと (koto) - abstract noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• 好き (suki) - adjective meaning "to like" or "to appreciate"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

真珠は美しい宝石です。

Shinju wa utsukushii houseki desu

The pearls are beautiful jewels.

Pearls are beautiful jewels.

• 真珠 (しんじゅ) - pearl
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい (うつくしい) - Beautiful, lovely
• 宝石 (ほうせき) - gemstone
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

眺めが美しいですね。

Nagame ga utsukushii desu ne

The view is beautiful

The view is beautiful.

• 眺め (nagame) - view, landscape
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
• ね (ne) - particle of confirmation or rhetorical question