美術

びじゅつ

art, fine arts

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"美術" (びじゅつ) refers to the fine arts, including painting, sculpture, and other visual arts. It is a formal term often used in academic, museum, and educational contexts.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "美術" in phrases like "美術館" (art museum), "美術展" (art exhibition), and "美術の授業" (art class). It emphasizes the artistic and cultural value of visual works.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 美術館 (びじゅつかん): art museum, a place to view and study art
  • 美術展 (びじゅつてん): art exhibition, where artworks are displayed
  • 美術の授業 (びじゅつのじゅぎょう): art class, educational setting for learning art

Register and Nuance

"美術" is a formal and somewhat academic term. In casual conversation, people might use "アート" (art) or "絵" (painting) depending on the context. Using "美術" shows a respect for the artistic discipline.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "美術" with "芸術" (げいじゅつ), which means "art" more broadly, including performing arts. Remember, "美術" specifically refers to the visual arts.

Example Sentences

かれはびじゅつかんではたらいています。

He works at an art museum.

びじゅつのじゅぎょうでえをかきました。

I drew a picture in art class.

びじゅつてんにあたらしいさくひんがてんじされています。

New works are exhibited at the art exhibition.