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:

淡水は台湾の北部にある美しい港町です。

Dansui wa Taiwan no hokubu ni aru utsukushii koumachi desu

Danshui is a beautiful port city located in the northern part of Taiwan.

Tamami is a beautiful port city in the northern part of Taiwan.

• 淡水 - Name of the city of Tamsui
• は - Topic particle
• 台湾 - Taiwan
• の - Possessive particle
• 北部 - Region norte
• に - Location particle
• ある - Verb "to be" in the present
• 美しい - Adjective "beautiful"
• 港町 - harbor
• です - Verb "to be" in the present

混合した色は美しいです。

Konpou shita iro wa utsukushii desu

Mixed colors are beautiful.

The mixed color is beautiful.

• 混合した - mixed
• 色 - color
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

沿岸には美しい景色が広がっています。

Enkou ni wa utsukushii keshiki ga hirogatte imasu

Along the coast

The beautiful landscape is spreading along the coast.

• 沿岸 (engan) - Coast, shoreline
• に (ni) - particle indicating location
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• 景色 (keishiki) - landscape, view
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 広がっています (hirogatteimasu) - extends, spreads

森は美しい自然の贈り物です。

Mori wa utsukushii shizen no okurimono desu

The forest is a beautiful gift from nature.

The forest is a beautiful natural gift.

• 森 (mori) - forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

植物は自然の美しさを表現する。

Shokubutsu wa shizen no utsukushisa o hyōgen suru

Plants express the beauty of nature.

Plants express the beauty of nature.

• 植物 (shokubutsu) - plant
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 美しさ (utsukushisa) - beauty
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 表現する (hyougen suru) - express

杉の木は美しいです。

Sugi no ki wa utsukushii desu

The cedar tree is beautiful.

The Sugi trees are beautiful.

• 杉の木 - suginoki (Japanese cedar tree)
• は - wa (topic particle)
• 美しい - utsukushii (bonito)
• です - be (verb to be in polite form)

東西に広がる景色は美しいです。

Tōzai ni hirogaru keshiki wa utsukushii desu

The landscape that extends from east to west is beautiful.

The scenario that spreads the east and west is beautiful.

• 東西 - means "east-west".
• に - Title that indicates direction or location.
• 広がる - verb meaning "to spread" or "to extend".
• 景色 - Noun that means "landscape" or "view".
• は - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous way of stating something.

松の木は美しいです。

Matsu no ki wa utsukushii desu

The pine tree is beautiful.

Pine trees are beautiful.

• 松の木 - It means "pine tree" in Japanese.
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

果物はとても美味しいです。

Kudamono wa totemo oishii desu

The fruits are very delicious.

The fruits are very delicious.

• 果物 (kudamono) - fruits
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• 美味しい (oishii) - tasty, delicious
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

枯れる木は美しくも哀しい。

Kareru ki wa utsukushiku mo kanashii

A withered tree is at the same time beautiful and sad.

The dead trees are beautiful and sad.

• 枯れる - a word that means "withered" or "dry".
• 木 - a word that means "tree".
• は - a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "dry tree".
• 美しく - an adverb meaning "beautifully".
• も - a particle meaning "also".
• 哀しい - an adjective meaning "sad".