【No. 0875】Utsukushii (Beautiful)
May 11, 2017 11:33
Today I will talk about the common Japanese adjective "utsukushii."
"Utsukushii" refers to that colors, shapes or sounds of something are beautiful.
This term comes from the verb "itsukushimu," which expresses a feeling of compassion for weaker persons than yourself.
Therefore "utsukushii" originally referred to the same meaning of "itsukushimu."
However, around the beginning of the Heian period, it came to express feelings of cute/sweet for tiny/young ones, and after the end of the Heian period, it has come to have the current meaning.
Also, the kanji for "utsukushii" is "美しい," and "美" can be decomposed into "羊," meaning sheep, and "大," meaning big.
This might be related that sheep were very rare in the past in China, and they were used as a reward or a gift to God.
"Utsukushii" refers to that colors, shapes or sounds of something are beautiful.
This term comes from the verb "itsukushimu," which expresses a feeling of compassion for weaker persons than yourself.
Therefore "utsukushii" originally referred to the same meaning of "itsukushimu."
However, around the beginning of the Heian period, it came to express feelings of cute/sweet for tiny/young ones, and after the end of the Heian period, it has come to have the current meaning.
Also, the kanji for "utsukushii" is "美しい," and "美" can be decomposed into "羊," meaning sheep, and "大," meaning big.
This might be related that sheep were very rare in the past in China, and they were used as a reward or a gift to God.
美しい
今日は一般的な日本語である「美しい」についてお話します。
「美しい」は、色・形・音などの調和がとれていて綺麗であることを表す形容詞です。
この言葉は「いつくしむ」が変化したもので、もともとは自分より弱いものに対する慈しみの感情を表しました。
そして、平安初期以降には小さい/幼いもの対する「かわいい」「いとしい」といった感情を表すようになり、平安末期頃から今の意味になったとされています。
また、「美しい」の「美」という漢字は、「羊」と「大」に分解することができます。
これは、かつて中国では羊は珍しく、何かの褒美や神様への供え物としても利用されていたことと関係しているかもしれません。
今日は一般的な日本語である「美しい」についてお話します。
「美しい」は、色・形・音などの調和がとれていて綺麗であることを表す形容詞です。
この言葉は「いつくしむ」が変化したもので、もともとは自分より弱いものに対する慈しみの感情を表しました。
そして、平安初期以降には小さい/幼いもの対する「かわいい」「いとしい」といった感情を表すようになり、平安末期頃から今の意味になったとされています。
また、「美しい」の「美」という漢字は、「羊」と「大」に分解することができます。
これは、かつて中国では羊は珍しく、何かの褒美や神様への供え物としても利用されていたことと関係しているかもしれません。
Corrections (2)
No. 1 Yukinekorin
- Utsukushii (Beautiful)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Today I will talk about the common Japanese adjective "utsukushii."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- "Utsukushii" refers to that colors, shapes or sounds of something are beautiful.
- "Utsukushii" refers to the colors, shapes or sounds of something that is beautiful.
- This term comes from the verb "itsukushimu," which expresses a feeling of compassion for weaker persons than yourself.
- This term comes from the verb "itsukushimu," which expresses a feeling of compassion for people weaker than yourself.
- Therefore "utsukushii" originally referred to the same meaning of "itsukushimu."
- Therefore "utsukushii" originally has the same meaning as "itsukushimu."
- Also, the kanji for "utsukushii" is "美しい," and "美" can be decomposed into "羊," meaning sheep, and "大," meaning big.
- Also, the kanji for "utsukushii" is "美しい," and "美" can be simplified into "羊," meaning sheep, and "大," meaning big.
- This might be related that sheep were very rare in the past in China, and they were used as a reward or a gift to God.
- This might be related to the fact that sheep were very rare in the past in China, and they were used as a reward or a gift to God.
Ah, I didn't know Utsukushii has such a history! ^^
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post, Yukinekorin-san!
I think that most Japanese people don't know such a history/origin about Japanese words. Now you know more about some Japanese terms than Japanese people! :)
Thank you so much for correcting my post, Yukinekorin-san!
I think that most Japanese people don't know such a history/origin about Japanese words. Now you know more about some Japanese terms than Japanese people! :)
No. 2 Oceansea
- Therefore "utsukushii" originally referred to the same meaning of "itsukushimu."
- Therefore "utsukushii" originally referrehad to the same meaning ofas "itsukushimu."
Very interesting! Thanks!
Toru
Thank you so much for reading and correcting my post! (^^)
Thank you so much for reading and correcting my post! (^^)