How to say "beautiful" in Japanese

• きれいJLPT N5approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThe everyday word for visual attractiveness: it covers 'pretty' and 'lovely' as much as 'beautiful', with a light, friendly feel. A safe default for describing people, rooms, flowers, or scenery.
  この芋虫いもむしがきれいな蝶ちょうになるのだ。↗

  This caterpillar will become a beautiful butterfly.
• 美しいうつくしいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe fuller, more elevated word for beauty: aesthetic appreciation of scenery, art, or a person's looks. It carries more weight and formality than きれい and suits writing and serious description.
  あなたは美うつくしい蝶々ちょうちょうです。↗

  You are a beautiful butterfly.
• シャンCommon
  na-adjective, nounA marginal way to say 'beautiful': シャン is seldom the word you want here; it really concerns neat, smart appearance, so きれい or 美しい serves most needs better.
• ビューティフルCommon
  na-adjectiveA direct borrowing of the English word. It does mean 'beautiful', but it carries a distinctly foreign, stylish flavour; for most purposes きれい or 美しい is the more natural choice.
• 見事みごとJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, adverbCovers 'beautiful' in the sense of splendid or magnificent: an impressive sight, performance, or achievement that draws admiration. Choose it when 'beautiful' really means striking excellence rather than simple prettiness.
  彼かれのスイングは実じつに見事みごとだ。↗

  He has a perfect swing.

「きれい」 is the everyday choice for prettiness, 「美しい」 the weightier word for true or formal beauty, 見事 fits splendid or impressive beauty, while 「シャン」 and 「ビューティフル」 are marginal or loanword options for special cases.

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

• きれいpretty
• 美しいうつくしいbeautiful
• シャンbeautiful
• ビューティフルbeautiful
• 見事みごとsplendid
• 美らちゅらbeautiful
• 麗しいうるわしいbeautiful
• 美麗びれいbeautiful
• 美美しいびびしいbeautiful
• 佳かbeautiful
• 斐然ひぜんbeautiful
• ふつくしいbeautiful
• 麗しのうるわしのbeautiful
• 明媚めいびpicturesque (scenery)
• 端麗たんれいfine-looking
• 秀麗しゅうれいgraceful
• 豊麗ほうれいrich (design)
• 豊艶ほうえんvoluptuous
• 優艶ゆうえんcharming
• 見目麗しいみめうるわしいgood-looking
• 風光明媚ふうこうめいびscenic
• 婉然えんぜんgraceful
• うららbright (weather, mood, voice, etc.)
• うららかbright (weather, mood, voice, etc.)
• 御みbeautiful
• 花々はなばなbeautiful
• 玉たまprecious