How to say "aesthetics" in Japanese

• 美学びがくCommon
  no-adjectiveThe common word for aesthetics: the academic discipline that studies beauty and art, and, in everyday use, a person's aesthetic principles or sense of beauty. Usually the word you want.
  親切しんせつは１つの美学びがくである。↗

  Kindness is a virtue.
• 審美学しんびがく
  nounA dated term for aesthetics as a field of study; you will seldom want it. For the discipline, 美学 is the usual choice.
• 感性論かんせいろん
  nounA less common term that renders aesthetics literally as the theory of sensibility — the sensory experience and appreciation of beauty. It is rarely the word you want; choose 美学 instead.

Choose 美学 for both the academic discipline and a person's aesthetic principles; 審美学 is a dated synonym for the discipline that you will seldom need, and 感性論 is a less common term framing aesthetics as the theory of sensibility.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 美学びがくesthetics
• 審美学しんびがくaesthetics
• 感性論かんせいろんaesthetics