Meaning

Primary

Beautiful

Word Type

い adjective

Explanation

This is a single kanji with an on the end, meaning you know it's probably an adjective. More precisely, it has しい on the end, which makes it even more likely it's an adjective. What's the adjective form of beauty? It's beautiful.

Reading

うつくしい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you. It's a long reading for a mnemonic, but try your best.

You look at someone who is beautiful. What an easy life they've lived. No hard work and all they do is pamper themselves to stay beautiful. Feel disgusted. You walk up to this person and say: "U too cushy! (うつくしい).

Sorry for adding the whole word in there for the reading mnemonic, but I thought it worked out better that way. Just know that the word isn't うつくしいしい or something weird like that. The hiragana on the end is part of the mnemonic as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 美しい色

    beautiful color

    美しい人

    beautiful woman

    美しい花

    beautiful flower

Context Sentences

この青い花、とても美しいですね。

This blue flower is very beautiful.

四国の「四万十川」という名の川は日本の美しい川の一つです。

The river called "Shimanto River" in Shikoku is one of Japan's beautiful rivers.

この人形の目は、宝石のように美しいですね。

The eyes of this doll are beautiful like jewels.

Kanji Composition