1.
graceful; elegant; refined
Describes something that is beautiful in a gentle, flowing, and refined way. Implies sophistication and delicacy, often used for movements, appearance, art, and music.
優美な踊りに見とれた。
I was captivated by the graceful dance.
その建物は優美な曲線で知られている。
That building is known for its elegant curves.
バレエダンサーの優美な動きには、長年の訓練が必要だ。
The graceful movements of a ballet dancer require years of training.
Emphasizes a gentle, flowing kind of beauty, as opposed to more striking or bold forms of beauty. Compare with 華麗 (splendid, gorgeous), which implies showiness, and 上品 (refined), which focuses on good taste.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 優美な姿 — a graceful figure
- 優美な旋律 — an elegant melody
- 優美な動き — graceful movement
- 優美な曲線 — elegant curves