人生は美しい
jinsei wa utsukushii
人生は美しい (jinsei wa utsukushii) is the Japanese way to say life is beautiful.
This phrase is used to express that existence is wonderful and worth living.
What does it mean word for word?
人生 (jinsei) refers to human life or one's lived experience. The particle は (wa) is a topic marker, indicating that life is the subject of the sentence. 美しい (utsukushii) is an adjective meaning beautiful, used to describe things that are aesthetically pleasing or spiritually sublime.
Which one should you use?
While 人生 (jinsei) refers to the journey of a human life, the word 命 (inochi) refers to raw biological life or the state of being alive. For a formal way to describe life as a conceptual, biological phenomenon, you can use 生命は美しいものです.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, you can say 人生はええやん to mean life is great.
How do you pronounce it?
jinsei wa utsukushii
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the concept of beauty often relies on 'impermanence', meaning a life is often considered beautiful specifically because it is fleeting and will end.
- The word 人生 (jinsei) specifically describes the 'human' experience. It cannot be used to describe the life of a pet or an animal, even when calling that life beautiful.
- Describing your own life as 美しい (utsukushii) in casual conversation can sound arrogant or overly dramatic. It is a word that can feel too formal for personal modesty.
Examples in context
- 人生は美しい。Life is beautiful.This sentence is useful for stating that life is beautiful.Tatoeba #5196 by mookeee, translation #1829 by CK
- 困難を乗り越えた時、人生は美しいと感じる。Konnan o norikoeta toki, jinsei wa utsukushii to kanjiru.When I overcome difficulties, I feel that life is beautiful.
- 苦労もあるけれど、人生は美しいものだ。Kurou mo aru keredo, jinsei wa utsukushii mono da.There are hardships, but life is a beautiful thing.
Example conversation
Two friends are watching a sunset on a beach.
- 蓮 Renこの景色を見てると、人生は美しいね。Kono keshiki o miteru to, jinsei wa utsukushii ne.Looking at this scenery, life is beautiful, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当に。蓮君の言う通りだよ。Honto ni. Ren-kun no iu toori da yo.Truly. It's just as you say, Ren.
- 蓮 Renどんな時も、前向きに生きよう。Donna toki mo, maemuki ni ikiyou.Let's live positively, no matter what happens.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、そうするわ。Un, sou suru wa.Yeah, I will.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
