Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 美しい | utsukushii | [ɯ̟t͡sɨ̥kɯ̟ɕiː] (narrow) |
| 綺麗 | kirei | [kʲiɾe̞ː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, there are different ways to express beauty depending on the context. 美しい is a straightforward and general word for beautiful, often used for scenery, art or more poetic contexts. 綺麗 can mean both beautiful and clean or tidy. You might use it to compliment a person's appearance or a well-kept room. For a more intense sense of beauty, the term 美麗な can be used to mean gorgeously beautiful or stunningly attractive, emphasizing both beauty and sophistication.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two words depends on the nuance you wish to convey. 美しい often implies a profound, aesthetic or sublime beauty. In contrast, 綺麗 is more common for everyday attractiveness or cleanliness. While 美しい only refers to aesthetic beauty, 綺麗 is versatile and can also mean clean or tidy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The two words function differently in sentences. The adjective 美しい changes to 美しく when used as an adverb meaning beautifully. Because 綺麗 is a na-adjective, it requires だ or です to function as a predicate, such as in the form 綺麗だ.
How do you pronounce it?
utsukushii
Did you know?
- Japanese culture often associates the beauty of 美しい with 'mono no aware', a bittersweet feeling about the transience of all things.
- In traditional Japanese aesthetics, the concept of 'wabi-sabi' finds beauty in imperfection, which contrasts with the polished ideal of 綺麗.
- The adjective 美しい (utsukushii) shares an ancient linguistic root with the word 厳しい (kibishii), which means 'strict' or 'severe'.
Examples in context
- 綺麗じゃない？Beautiful, don't you think?This sentence uses 綺麗 to check for agreement on someone's beauty.Tatoeba #10287613 by small_snow, translation #3414032 by corvard
- 地球は美しい。The earth is beautiful.This sentence uses 美しい to describe the earth.Tatoeba #11752819 by small_snow, translation #8910130 by shekitten
- 綺麗な刀だな。It's a beautiful sword.This sentence uses 綺麗 to describe a sword.Tatoeba #12020410 by small_snow, translation #3820404 by CK
- あなたは美しいですYou are beautiful.
- そのドレスはキレイだねThat dress is beautiful, isn't it?
- この景色は綺麗だよThis view is beautiful.
- 彼はすごくきれいな人だHe is a really beautiful person.
- 237 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are looking at a sunset together.
- 結衣 Yui見て、本当に美しい景色ね。Mite, hontō ni utsukushii keshiki ne.Look, it's a truly beautiful view.
- 蓮 Renそうだね。心が洗われるよ。Sō da ne. Kokoro ga arawareru yo.You're right. It feels refreshing.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くんもそう思うよね？Ren-kun mo sō omou yo ne?You think so too, Ren?
- 蓮 Renうん、とても美しいよ。Un, totemo utsukushii yo.Yeah, it's very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beautiful” translations and entries 美しい, 綺麗, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 綺麗, 美しい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
