The everyday word for beautiful in Japanese is きれい (kirei), which also means clean and neat. 美しい (utsukushii) is stronger and more literary, used for scenery, music, art and writing. Complimenting people, Japanese speakers also use かわいい (kawaii, cute) and, for men especially, かっこいい (kakkoii, cool or good-looking).
- Everyday
- きれい (kirei)
- Literary, strong
- 美しい (utsukushii)
- Cute
- かわいい (kawaii)
- Cool, handsome
- かっこいい (kakkoii)
- Level
- A1
Kirei or utsukushii: which should you use?
In conversation, きれい wins almost every time: a beautiful view, a pretty dress, a lovely photo. 美しい sounds like writing and suits moments of real awe, or descriptions in books and speeches.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| きれい | kirei | Beautiful, pretty; clean, neat | People, flowers, rooms, views, handwriting |
| 美しい | utsukushii | Beautiful (strong, literary) | Landscapes, music, art, writing |
| かわいい | kawaii | Cute, sweet | Babies, pets, clothes, friends |
| かっこいい | kakkoii | Cool, good-looking | Men, cars, style |
| 素敵 | suteki | Lovely | Gifts, outfits, ideas, people |
| 美人 | bijin | A beautiful woman | A noun: 美人ですね |
| 絶景 | zekkei | A breathtaking view | Scenery |
Why does kirei also mean clean?
Its core meaning is "pure, orderly, free of anything wrong". A tidy room, a neat hand and a beautiful face all fit. Grammatically, きれい is a な-adjective even though it ends in い: say きれいな花 (kirei na hana) and, in the negative, きれいじゃない (kirei ja nai), never きれくない.
きれい な 花 です。Kirei na hana desu.
美しい is a regular い-adjective, so it changes like any other: 美しくない (utsukushiku nai, not beautiful), 美しかった (utsukushikatta, was beautiful). It needs no な before a noun.
美しい 絵 と 危ない 紙。Utsukushii e to abunai kami.
How do you compliment someone's looks in Japanese?
Compliments on things a person has chosen, such as clothes, hair or a photo, come across more naturally than remarks about their face or body, especially at work. People usually deflect praise, so expect a modest reply.
その服、かわいいね。
Sono fuku, kawaii ne.
That outfit's cute.
今日、すごくきれいだね。
Kyō, sugoku kirei da ne.
You look really beautiful today.
To a partner or close friend.
素敵な写真ですね。
Suteki na shashin desu ne.
What a lovely photo.
そんなことないです。
Sonna koto nai desu.
Oh, not at all.
The usual modest answer to a compliment.
How do you describe a beautiful place?
景色がきれいですね。
Keshiki ga kirei desu ne.
The view is beautiful, isn't it?
夜景がきれい！
Yakei ga kirei!
What a beautiful night view!
富士山は本当に美しい山です。
Fujisan wa hontō ni utsukushii yama desu.
Mount Fuji is a truly beautiful mountain.
The written register 美しい suits.
One famous line uses きれい to mean something else entirely; see how to say I love you in Japanese.
Read free Japanese stories at A1 and tap きれい, 美しい or any other word for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce kirei?
"Kee-ray". The ei is said as a long e, so it rhymes with English "ray" rather than "rye".
Is kawaii a compliment for adults?
Yes, between friends and partners, and for clothes or things. Calling a man かわいい can be affectionate but may not be the compliment he wants; かっこいい is the usual choice.
How is kirei written in kanji?
綺麗. Most people write it in hiragana, きれい, which is easier to read; the kanji appear in novels and on shop signs.
How do you say "beautiful" about a woman in Japanese?
きれいな人 (kirei na hito), "a beautiful person", or 美人 (bijin), "a beauty". Both are compliments, but commenting on a stranger's looks is best avoided.