Meaning
美 means beauty, beautiful, and excellence. Few kanji carry this much cultural weight — the character turns up in everyday compliments, art museum names, cosmetic brands, and philosophical discourse alike. Its scope reaches beyond visual beauty to cover the beauty of sound, taste, character, and the natural world.
The character is built from two parts: 羊 (hitsuji, sheep) on top and 大 (dai, large/great) below. In ancient agrarian China, a large, healthy sheep was the finest thing a household could own — a symbol of abundance and prosperity. That sense of "the finest thing" gradually expanded into beauty in all its forms.
A second reading sees 大 as a person with outstretched arms wearing ram horns in a ritual ceremony — a figure considered magnificent and awe-inspiring. This ceremonial angle gives the concept of beauty an elevated, near-sacred dimension in East Asian culture.
美 takes 9 strokes and is taught at Grade 3 in Japanese elementary school. Its radical is 羊 (sheep). Spot the sheep at the top and the rest of the character falls into place.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi readings are ビ (bi) and ミ (mi), used mainly in Sino-Japanese compound words (熟語, jukugo). These compounds tend to lean more formal or literary than native Japanese words.
ビ (bi) — By far the more common reading, appearing across everyday and formal contexts:
- 美術 (bijutsu) — fine arts, visual arts
- 美人 (bijin) — a beautiful person (usually a woman)
- 美化 (bika) — beautification, glorification
- 美容 (biyou) — beauty care, cosmetics
- 美食 (bishoku) — gourmet food, fine cuisine
ミ (mi) — A rare reading, mostly limited to classical or formal usage:
- 美称 (mishō) — a term of high praise, an honorary title
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese reading
The kun'yomi is うつく(しい) — utsuku(shii). This native adjective is the word most Japanese speakers reach for in everyday conversation. The stem うつく takes the adjective ending しい to form the i-adjective 美しい.
- 美しい (utsukushii) — beautiful, lovely
- 美しさ (utsukushisa) — beauty (noun form)
- 美しく (utsukushiku) — beautifully (adverbial form)
Common Words & Compounds
美 shows up across art, appearance, food, and moral values. Here are key compounds organized by theme.
Art & Culture
- 美術 (bijutsu) — fine arts, visual arts
- 美術館 (bijutsukan) — art museum
- 美学 (bigaku) — aesthetics (as an academic field)
- 審美眼 (shimbigan) — aesthetic eye, discerning taste
Appearance & People
- 美人 (bijin) — a beautiful person, a beauty
- 美男子 (binanshi) — handsome man
- 美女 (bijo) — beautiful woman
- 美容 (biyou) — beauty, cosmetics, grooming
- 美容院 (biyouin) — beauty salon, hair salon
Nature & Scenery
- 美景 (bikei) — beautiful scenery, a picturesque view
- 美林 (birin) — beautiful forest
Food & Taste
- 美味しい (oishii) — delicious, tasty
- 美味 (bimi) — fine flavor, delicious taste
- 美食 (bishoku) — gourmet, fine food
- 美食家 (bishokuka) — gourmet, foodie
Values & Character
- 美徳 (bitoku) — virtue, moral excellence
- 美化 (bika) — beautification; also idealization
- 賞美 (shōbi) — admiration, appreciation of beauty
Example Sentences
この庭は本当に美しいですね。
Kono niwa wa hontou ni utsukushii desu ne.
This garden is truly beautiful, isn't it?
彼女は美人で、しかも頭もいい。
Kanojo wa bijin de, shikamo atama mo ii.
She is beautiful and also very smart.
来週、友達と美術館へ行く予定です。
Raishuu, tomodachi to bijutsukan e iku yotei desu.
I plan to go to the art museum with a friend next week.
この料理は見た目も美しく、とても美味だ。
Kono ryouri wa mitame mo utsukushiku, totemo bimi da.
This dish looks beautiful and tastes absolutely delicious.
日本の四季の美しさは世界中で知られている。
Nihon no shiki no utsukushisa wa sekaijuu de shirarete iru.
The beauty of Japan's four seasons is known throughout the world.
彼は美容院で髪を切ってもらった。
Kare wa biyouin de kami wo kitte moratta.
He had his hair cut at the beauty salon.
謙虚さは日本の美徳のひとつだと言われている。
Kenkyosa wa Nihon no bitoku no hitotsu da to iwarete iru.
Humility is said to be one of Japan's virtues.
その映画は戦争を美化しすぎているという批判がある。
Sono eiga wa sensou wo bika shi sugite iru to iu hihan ga aru.
There is criticism that the film overly glorifies war.
彼女の美しい声は聴衆を魅了した。
Kanojo no utsukushii koe wa choushuu wo miryou shita.
Her beautiful voice captivated the audience.
Memory Tip
Picture a large (大) sheep (羊) standing on a hill. In ancient times, a big, healthy sheep was the most prized thing a family could own — the very image of perfection and abundance. When you see 羊 sitting on top of 大, think: "The biggest sheep is the most beautiful."
There is also a handy sound hook for English speakers: the on'yomi BI echoes the start of "beauty" and "beautiful" — making this one of the more intuitive on'yomi readings to remember.