美: the kanji for beautiful
美 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means beautiful. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
美 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
美 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ビ (bi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 美術びじゅつ · bijutsu | art |
| 美人びじん · bijin | beautiful woman |
うつくしい (utsukushii)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 美しいうつくしい · utsukushii | beautiful |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 美術の授業が好きです。Bijutsu no jugyō ga suki desu.I like art class.
- 彼女はとても美しい人だ。Kanojo wa totemo utsukushii hito da.She is a very beautiful person.
- 山から見る景色は美しかった。Yama kara miru keshiki wa utsukushikatta.The scenery seen from the mountain was beautiful.
- 美術館で美しい絵画を見た。Bijutsukan de utsukushii kaiga o mita.I saw beautiful paintings at the art museum.
- 夕日がとても美しかった。Yūhi ga totemo utsukushikatta.The sunset was very beautiful.
Questions about 美
How many strokes does 美 have?
美 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 美?
The on readings are bi (ビ). The kun readings are utsukushii (うつくしい).
What JLPT level is 美?
N3. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 美
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.