美 - Baa Baa BEAUTY

Readings & Meanings:

うつく（しい）

ビ

beautiful, beauty

Common Usage:

美しい

美術

美学

美人

Examples:

その娘はとても美しかった。

大学で美術を学んでいます。

そのようなことは私の美学に反する。

あの店の奥さんはとても美人だ。

Translations:

That girl was really beautiful.

I am studying art at college.

That kind of thing goes against my sense of aesthetics.

The wife of that shopkeeper is an incredible-looking lady (a "vision").

Radical:

Um, you're not going to believe me on this one. No, really, you're not.

This has a 羊 sheep radical on top.

Because sheep were thought to be beautiful.

Hey, man, whatever floats your 船.

In 美, we see "sheep" on top of 大, meaning a big, "well-formed" sheep with "delicate, curly wool," and that means beauty.

Bonus:

If you get to know at least 10 Japanese women, chances are you will find this kanji in one of their names. Usually, in girls' names, it is pronounced "み", but it still means "beautiful". Examples are: Asami, Yumi, Naomi, Kumi, Miho, Misa... It goes on and on.

Extra Bonus:

I didn't include this pronunciation in the Readings section, but this word also contains 美: 美味しい (oishii).

A beautiful taste = delicious. Nice. From now on, every time I eat something good, I'm going to think "This has a beautiful taste." Especially if I'm eating mutton.

References:

http://www.kanjinetworks.com/mnetwork/MUAR.html#MUAR03
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/kanji/kanji/e.htm