Details
Description
Beauty - written as a large sheep, once the mark of abundance, now the word for beauty in every form.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sheep and big. Big sheep is beautiful.
Symbolism
Beautiful, beauty, art. Represents beauty.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Beautiful scenery
Component Breakdown
Sheep + big
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
醇風美俗
じゅんぷうびぞく
good morals and manners; genial manners and laudable customs; pristine way of life
八方美人
はっぽうびじん
everybody's friend; people pleaser; person who is affable to everybody
美辞麗句
びじれいく
flowery words; rhetorical flourishes
耽美主義
たんびしゅぎ
aestheticism
良風美俗
りょうふうびぞく
good customs
美酒佳肴
びしゅかこう
fine wines and prized delicacies
美人薄命
びじんはくめい
beauty and fortune seldom go together; the beautiful die young
美味佳肴
びみかこう
delicacies; epicurean dishes
Anime & Manga
美少女戦士セーラームーン
Sailor Moon
A well-known work with 美 in its Japanese title.
はぐれ勇者の鬼畜美学 (エステティカ)
Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
A well-known work with 美 in its Japanese title.
この美術部には問題がある!
This Art Club Has a Problem!
A well-known work with 美 in its Japanese title.
ゼロの使い魔 ～三美姫（プリンセッセ）の輪舞（ロンド）～
The Familiar of Zero: "Rondo" of Princesses
A well-known work with 美 in its Japanese title.
それでも世界は美しい
The World is Still Beautiful
A well-known work with 美 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
上皇后美智子
Name contains 美
Michiko is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who has been the Empress Emerita of Japan since 1 May 2019.
Wikipedia三条実美
Name contains 美
Prince Sanjō Sanetomi was a Japanese Imperial court noble and statesman at the time of the Meiji Restoration.
Wikipedia川上弘美
Name contains 美
Hiromi Kawakami is a Japanese writer, known for her off-beat fiction, poetry, and literary criticism.
Wikipedia奈良美智
Name contains 美
Yoshitomo Nara is a Japanese artist. He lives and works in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, though his artwork has been exhibited worldwide.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“beauty”
“beautiful”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 美 mean in Japanese?
美 means beauty, beautiful. Beauty - written as a large sheep, once the mark of abundance, now the word for beauty in every form.
How do you read 美?
On'yomi: ビ、ミ (BI, MI). Kun'yomi: うつく.しい (utsukushii).
How many strokes does 美 have?
美 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 羊 (sheep).
Is 美 a good kanji for a tattoo?
美 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means beauty, beautiful. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.