Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Beautiful" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "beautiful", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
きれいな
きれいな (kirei na)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
端麗
たんれい (tanrei)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "beautiful" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between きれいな and 端麗.
In Japanese, きれいな (きれいな (kirei na)) is typically associated with "beautiful; clean; pretty; tidy" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An adjective.
On the other hand, 端麗 (たんれい (tanrei)) maps to "beautiful, graceful, elegant, refined, handsome" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Describes a beauty that is refined, elegant, and often classical, implying dignity or sophistication. It is commonly used for people's appearance. A literal translation of "beautiful" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "きれいな"
あの花はとてもきれいです。
That flower is very beautiful.
Bilingual Context for "端麗"
彼の端麗な顔立ちに多くの人が魅了された。
Many people were captivated by his graceful features.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "あの花はとてもきれいです。" (Meaning: "That flower is very beautiful.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "きれいな" fits here because it means "beautiful; clean; pretty; tidy" in the context of: "That flower is very beautiful.". "端麗" represents "beautiful, graceful, elegant, refined, handsome".