Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Beautiful" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "beautiful", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
きれい
きれい (kirei)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
美しい
うつくしい (utsukushii)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "beautiful" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between きれい and 美しい.
In Japanese, きれい (きれい (kirei)) is typically associated with "beautiful; clean" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A na-adjective. Can mean 'beautiful/pretty' for people/things, or 'clean' for places/objects. Often has positive connotations..
On the other hand, 美しい (うつくしい (utsukushii)) maps to "beautiful" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents An i-adjective often used for visual beauty. A literal translation of "beautiful" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "きれい"
あの花はとてもきれいです。
That flower is very beautiful.
Bilingual Context for "美しい"
富士山は本当に美しい景色です。
Mt. Fuji is truly a beautiful sight.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "あの花はとても ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "That flower is very beautiful.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "きれい" fits here because it means "beautiful; clean" in the context of: "That flower is very beautiful.". "美しい" represents "beautiful".