noun, noun, used as a suffix
Used as a standalone noun for abstract beauty or as a suffix in compounds like 自然美 (natural beauty) or 女性美 (feminine beauty).
この庭園の美は言葉にできない。
The beauty of this garden is beyond words.
彼女の作品には独特の美がある。
Her work has a unique beauty.
美しさ is the more common, everyday word for 'beauty' as a quality; 美 is more abstract, literary, or used in compounds.
美人 refers specifically to a beautiful person (usually a woman), while 美 is the abstract concept of beauty.
From Middle Chinese 美 (mˠiɪX). The kanji 美 is composed of 羊 (sheep) and 大 (big), originally suggesting 'large sheep' as a symbol of beauty and value.