Both kirei きれい and utsukushi-i 美しい have the meaning of beautiful.
Kirei きれい is used when the appearance is gorgeous, colorful, showy, and beautiful.
● 花(はな)がきれいだ。 (Hana-ga kirei-da.)
The flower is beautiful.
● きれいな声(こえ)だなあ。 (Kirei-na koe-da naa.)
What a beautiful voice!
● 昨日(きのう)きれいな女性(じょせい)を見ました(みました)。 (Kinoo kirei-na josei-o mi-mashita.)
I saw a beautiful lady yesterday.
Utsukushi-i 美しい(うつくしい) is when something enchants you and appeals to your eye, ear, or heart.
You can apply it to the goodness about mind and moral as well as appearance. It’s a little bit formal and used more in writing than kirei きれい.
● 桜(さくら)の花(はな)が美しい(うつくしい)。 (Sakura-no hana-ga utsukushi-i.)
The cherry blossoms are beautiful.
● 美しい(うつくしい)声(こえ)。 (Utsukushi-i koe.)
A beautiful voice.
● 美しい(うつくしい)詩(し)。 (Utsukushi-i shi.)
A beautiful poem.
● 美しい(うつくしい)友情(ゆうじょう)。 (Utsukushi-i yuujoo.)
A beautiful friendship.
● 美しい(うつくしい)音楽(おんがく)。 (Utsukushi-i ongaku.)
Beautiful music.
● 富士山(ふじさん)はすそ野(すその)が広くて(ひろくて)形(かたち)が美しい(うつくしい)。 (Fuji-san-wa susono-ga hiroku-te katashi-ga utsukushi-i.)
The shape of Mr. Fuji is beautiful, having a vast foot.
Kirei きれい is also used figuratively.
● あの課長(かちょう)は口先(くちさき)ばかりきれいな事(こと)を言う(いう)。 (Ano kacyo-wa kuchisaki-bakari kirei-na koto-o iu.)
The manager glosses it over glibly.
Kirei きれい is a state where someone’s interests or love affairs are not involved.
● 彼女(かのじょ)とはきれいなつきあいです。 (Kanojo-to-wa kirei-na tsukiai-desu.)
I don’t have a romantic affair with her.
● 身辺(しんぺん)をきれいにしなさい。 (Shimpen-o kirei-ni shinasai.)
Put your affairs in order.
● 彼(かれ)はきれいな心(こころ)の持ち主(もちぬし)です。 (Kare-wa kirei-na kokoro-no mochinushi-desu.)
He has a beautiful soul.
Kirei きれい is clean.
● 手(て)をきれいに洗いなさい(あらいなさい)。 (Te-o kirei-ni arai-na-sai.)
Wash your hands clean.
● 二日(ふつか)に一回(いっかい)、部屋(へや)をきれいに掃除(そうじ)して下さい(ください)。 (Hutsuka-ni ikkai, heya-o kirei-ni sooji-shite-kudasai.)
Please clean the rooms every other day.
Kirei-ni きれいに also means ‘completely’ and ‘without leaving any trace.’
● 父(ちち)は借金(しゃっきん)をきれいに返した(かえした)。 (Chichi-wa shakkin-o kirei-ni kaeshita.)
My father repaid all his debts.
● そんなこときれいに忘れて(わすれて)しまったよ。 (Sonnna-koto kirei-ni wasure-te shimatta-yo.)
I forgot such a thing completely.
● 49は7できれいに割り切れる(わりきれる)。 (Yonjuu-kyu-wa nana-de kirei-ni wari-kire-ru.)
49 can be divided by 7 without a remainder.
● 残り物(のこりもの)がきれいになくなっていた。(Nokori-mono-ga kirei-ni nakunatte-ita.)
The leftover has gone without leaving any trace.
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