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美
美 (readings: び, うつく; Japanese kanji) means “beautiful”. It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 美人 (beautiful person).
What does 美 mean?
| Kanji | 美 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | beautiful |
| Readings | び, うつく |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 美
美 is read び or うつく depending on the word.
Example words with 美
| Example | 美人 (beautiful person) |
|---|
Practice writing 美 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14