Yojijukugo
Japanese meaning of 美人薄命
Reading:
Voice sample:
びじんはくめい (bijin hakumei)
English Translation:
Beautiful women are destined to have short lives
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Beautiful women tend to have short lives
日本語で読む
美しい女性は短命であるという俗説。
Cultural Context:
Rooted in literary romanticism; appears in poetry, novels, and eulogies.
日本語で読む
文学的ロマン主義に基づき、詩・小説・追悼文で見られる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase used in poetic expressions; often with “の運命.”
日本語で読む
• 詩的表現で使い、「〜の運命」と組み合わせる。
Trap for English Speakers
May be seen as praising beauty without noting the tragic nuance.
日本語で読む
美しさを称えるだけで悲劇的な意味を理解されないことがある。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
昔から美人薄命と言われる。
It has long been said that beautiful women are destined to have short lives.
Example 2Applied Example
彼女は村一番の美人だったが、美人薄命の運命から逃れられなかった。
She was the most beautiful woman in the village, but could not escape the fate that Beautiful women are destined to have short lives.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「美人薄命」 mean?