Translation guide
The ability to perceive, appreciate, or create beauty; aesthetic sensibility.
The general capacity to recognize and value beauty in art, nature, or everyday life.
The most direct and common translation for 'sense of beauty' as an aesthetic faculty. Used in both everyday and academic contexts.
彼女は優れた美的感覚を持っている。
She has an excellent sense of beauty.
Literally 'eye for aesthetics'; implies a discerning, critical eye for beauty, often used in art, design, or fashion.
彼の審美眼は確かだ。
His sense of beauty is reliable.
Loanword from English 'sense', commonly used for 'sense of style/beauty' in casual contexts. Often paired with がいい/が悪い.
あの人はセンスがいいね。
That person has a good sense of beauty/style.
Aesthetic consciousness or sense of beauty as a personal value or awareness. Often used in discussions of personal style or cultural aesthetics.
彼の美意識は独特だ。
His sense of beauty is unique.
Sensibility or sensitivity; broader than just beauty, but can mean 'aesthetic sense' in context. Often used in artistic or philosophical discussions.
彼女の感性は素晴らしい。
Her sensibility (sense of beauty) is wonderful.
The ability to make aesthetically pleasing choices in clothing, interior design, etc.
Common phrase meaning 'has good taste/sense'. Used for fashion, design, and general aesthetic choices.
彼女は服のセンスがいい。
She has a good sense of style.
Literally 'taste is good'; implies refined taste in general, including beauty and style.
あの家のインテリアは趣味がいい。
That house's interior design shows good taste.
Stylish, fashionable; can refer to a person's sense of style or an object's aesthetic appeal.
The emotional or intellectual response to beauty in specific contexts like nature, art, or music.
Literally 'a heart that feels beauty'; a poetic way to express the capacity to be moved by beauty.
美を感じる心を大切にしたい。
I want to cherish a sense of beauty.
Also used here; aesthetic awareness that allows one to appreciate beauty in various forms.
日本人の美意識は自然と深く結びついている。
The Japanese sense of beauty is deeply connected with nature.
美的感覚 is a formal, precise term for aesthetic sense, while センス is a casual loanword often used for style or taste in everyday conversation. Use 美的感覚 in writing or serious discussion, and センス when chatting about fashion or design.
To say someone lacks a sense of beauty, use 美的感覚がない or センスが悪い. The latter is more common in casual speech.
He has a good sense of style.