美しい月
utsukushii tsuki
The English phrase "beautiful moon" is translated into Japanese as 美しい月 (utsukushii tsuki).
The phrase is used to describe the moon as being visually pleasing or attractive. You can also use the word 輝く (radiant) or 幻想的な (fantastical) to describe a beautiful moon.
Which one should you use?
While 美しい月 implies a profound, aesthetic or sublime beauty, the phrase きれいな月 is a more common, everyday way to say "pretty" or "beautiful moon".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 美しい (utsukushii) directly precedes the noun 月 (tsuki) to modify it. To use this phrase as the subject of a sentence, you must add the topic marker は (wa) or the subject marker が (ga) after 月.
How do you pronounce it?
utsukushii tsuki
Did you know?
- The phrase 月がきれいですね is famously attributed to the novelist Natsume Sōseki, who allegedly suggested this translation for 'I love you' to better fit the reserved nature of Japanese speakers.
- Traditional Japanese 'moon viewing' is not just about the moon itself, but often involves eating tsukimi-dango, special white rice dumplings shaped like the full moon.
- While 美しい describes beauty, the moon 月 is the root of the Japanese word for 'month'. This means a calendar month is conceptually viewed as a single cycle of the moon.
Examples in context
- 今夜のきれいな月を見てください。Please look at the beautiful moon tonight.
- 美しい月の光が庭を照らしている。The light of the beautiful moon is illuminating the garden.
- 今夜は綺麗なお月さんが出ているね。The beautiful moon is out tonight, isn't it?
- 美しい月ですね。utsukushii tsuki desu ne.It is a beautiful moon, isn't it?
- 今夜は美しい月が見えます。konya wa utsukushii tsuki ga miemasu.I can see a beautiful moon tonight.
- あの美しい月を眺めています。ano utsukushii tsuki o nagamete imasu.I am gazing at that beautiful moon.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are walking home at night.
- 健太 Kenta見て、あそこに美しい月があるよ。Mite, asoko ni utsukushii tsuki ga aru yo.Look, there is a beautiful moon over there.
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。とても明るいね。Hontō da ne. Totemo akarui ne.You're right. It's very bright.
- 健太 Kentaこんなに綺麗な夜は久しぶりだ。Konna ni kirei na yoru wa hisashiburi da.It's been a while since we had such a clear night.
- 結衣 Yuiゆっくり歩いて帰りましょう。Yukkuri aruite kaerimashō.Let's walk home slowly.
