美 means “beauty, beautiful”

び · bi

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うつくしい

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ビ, ミ

Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A large (大) sheep (羊): in ancient times, a big, healthy sheep was the standard of beauty and goodness. Japanese aesthetics elevate 美 to philosophy: 侘び寂び (wabi-sabi) finds beauty in imperfection, and 美しい (utsukushii) describes not just appearance but the beauty of spirit.

Used in 美術 (bijutsu, fine arts), 美しい (utsukushii, beautiful), and 美人 (bijin, beautiful person)

More from Music & Arts

• 歌 song
• 楽 music
• 踊 dance
• 奏 play (music)
• 劇 drama
• 画 painting
• 彫 carve
• 詩 poetry
• 拍 rhythm
• 弦 string (instrument)
• 笛 flute
• 鼓 drum

Learn 美 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.