Japanese dictionary
How to say "beautiful" in Japanese
きれいきれい · kirei
"Beautiful" in Japanese is usually きれい (kirei). 美しい (utsukushii) means the same but sounds more formal or poetic.
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Ways to say "beautiful" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| きれいきれい · kirei | Beautiful; pretty; clean. The everyday word. |
| 美しいうつくしい · utsukushii | Beautiful. More formal and literary. |
| 素敵すてき · suteki | Lovely; wonderful. |
How to use it
きれい also means clean, as in 部屋がきれい (the room is clean).
きれい is a na-adjective: きれいな景色 (a beautiful view). 美しい is an i-adjective: 美しい景色.
Example sentences
- 景色がとてもきれいですね。Keshiki ga totemo kirei desu ne.The view is beautiful, isn't it?
- 京都の庭は美しいです。Kyōto no niwa wa utsukushii desu.The gardens in Kyoto are beautiful.
- 素敵なプレゼントをありがとうございます。Suteki na purezento o arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you for the lovely present.
- きれいな字ですね。Kirei na ji desu ne.You have beautiful handwriting.
- 夜の東京タワーはきれいです。Yoru no Tōkyō tawā wa kirei desu.Tokyo Tower is beautiful at night.
- このホテルは部屋がきれいです。Kono hoteru wa heya ga kirei desu.The rooms at this hotel are clean.
Questions
Does きれい mean beautiful or clean?
Both. Context tells you which. きれいな花 is a beautiful flower, and きれいな部屋 is usually a clean room.
What is the difference between きれい and 美しい?
きれい (kirei) is everyday speech. 美しい (utsukushii) sounds more formal or poetic and is common in writing.
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