Japanese word for life

Japanese is quite interesting and when I search more about Japanese language, I found some pretty interesting words with really deep meaning behind it. So here I would like to share of the them, pretty meaningful and pretty interesting:

1 — Itadakimasu

This is a pretty well-known Japanese word, even for people who haven’t learned Japanese before. In simple way, we can understand «Itadakimasu» as «Thanks for the meal» or «Let’s eat». However, if we dig in deeper, we can say «Itadakimasu» is somewhat relate to Buddism. The action of clasping 2 hands together with slight head bow can be seen as an act of prayer. In Buddism, all lives are considered to be precious, when you do «Itadakimasu», you have to finish all your meal as a way to express gratitude since the «food» gave it life to you.

2 — Shinrin-Yoku

This one is a really cool Japanese word as it refers to the action of going into the forest to relax and enjoy life. In English, «Shinrin-yoku» can be translated to «Forest-bathing» (pretty interesting translation, too). On the contrary to its «fancy name», this activity is not hard to do, simply go into the forest, walk slowly and breathe, submerge ourselves into the nature. As it is proved, «Shinrin-yoku» is a excellent healing way, it can help alot in improving human’s health such as reducing blood pressure, reducing stress, improving mood, improving sleep and body energy, .etc… In term of spiritual idea, it is like becoming one with the nature, relax and put all worries behind for better present, and future. If you are interested in this activity, you should check out this site for more information.

3 — Ikigai

Are you struggling to find your dream? Are you struggling to find your purpose in life? If that is the case then this meaningful Japanese word will give you a big help. In Japanese, «Ikigai» means «reason for being», or we can say «reason for living». The more we think about it, the more meaningful things we can see around this word. If we divide this word, we will have «iki» which refers to «life» and «kai» which basically means «realizing what we expect or hope for». We can also translate «Ikagai» as «the thing that makes you wake up everyday», so let ask ourselves: «What give us motivation to get up in the morning?».

4 — Yugen

Brace yourself because we are going deep into meaning of one part of Buddism in general and Japanese culture in particular — Yugen. «Yugen» are explained to be awareness of the Universe which triggers the emotion and feeling about the world. Sounds complicated isn’ it? To make it easier to understand, first we will have to understand one concept from Buddism which is «nothingness». «Nothingness» does not mean «non-existance», but rather means «everything will constantly changing, some will evolve, some will dissolve, that is the way of the world». In Japanese concept of aesthetic, this means appreciating the constant changes of the world, instead of clinging into the clinging into the forever existance of things, such as the sunset scenery, or gazing at the boat which are gradually disappearing. If we apply this meaning into daily life, we will see that everything around us will constantly change, for this reason, we should focus on our present, instead of clinging into the glory or the sorrow of the past, as everything will disappear, and only present remains.

5 — Hikikomori

«Hikikomori» is actually not a popular Japanese word around the world until recent years. However, in truth, it refers to a real-life situation, or people who locks themselves in their own room, seperating themselves from society. This situation is seen as a extreme state of isolation, the bad part is that it happens more and more nowadays. This might not be the worst in other countries, but in Japan, seems the percentage of «hikikomori» increases so much that Japanese Ministry of Health has to give out a definition and 6 different criterias for «hikikomori». Interesting Japanese word, but quite terrifying at the same time indeed.

4 Mins Read

Have you been searching for a way to describe something you’ve felt, and just can’t pin down using the English language? We’ve definitely felt that way before. Luckily, there are some Japanese words that are just so relatable, and we are here to share them with you! Here are 7 Japanese words that seem to perfectly condense an indescribable feeling or activity in a straightforward way:

1. Mottainai

Mottainai is a term that has recently been picked up by environmental activists, especially ever since a certain Japanese lady created a minimalist craze. In Japanese, mottainai is an expression of regret over waste – it literally translates to “what a waste!” Since being used by Kenyan green activist Wangari Mathai at a United Nations conference, the term has become a slogan to promote protecting our planet through reducing, reusing and recycling. In addition to the primary use of the word to describe wastefulness in Japanese, it is also used to mean “more than one deserves.”

Use it in a sentence: “After a marathon of Marie Kondo on Netflix, Nadine can’t stop lecturing us about mottanai.”

2. Shinrin-yoku

Are you in need of an outdoor nature activity that will make you feel good? In Japan, there is something called shinrin-yoku, the practice of forest bathing. It involves immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest, taking it in through your senses to restore mood and energy. The practice has its roots in the worship practices of Shinto and Buddhism. First developed in 1982 by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as a response to the emergence of karoshi (death by overwork), it has since become a popular therapy option. 

Use it in a sentence: “My weekly hikes really help me get some much-needed shinrin-yoku.”

Read more about Shinrin-yoku & Why Trees Are So Magical

3. Satori

Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term, derived from the verb satoru, and it means awakening or understanding. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori is used as a reference to experiencing and realising one’s true nature – a state of enlightenment. According to D.T. Suzuki, satori is at the core of Zen thinking. You’ll also be surprised to know that the term also exists in Chinese (悟), which when used in conjunction with other characters is an expression for consciousness, awareness or the power of understanding. 

Use it in a sentence: “A month-long yoga retreat in Bali helped Lily find satori.”

4. Hikikomori

Hikikomori describes socially withdrawing, shutting yourself out from the world, or pulling inward. Sometimes used to categorise a group of reclusive adolescents or modern-day hermits, we can perhaps use hikikomori as a warning that we have to take care of ourselves and our mental health. Yes, no matter how much of a social butterfly you might be, we all need some me-time sometimes. But if you are struggling, it’s always okay to reach out to those around you for help. 

Use it in a sentence: “During Joanna’s hikikomori phase, she became increasingly anti-social.”

5. Oishii

Simply meaning tasty or delicious, oishii is definitely a term we should live by. Food should be shared, it should be enjoyable and it should be oishii! So next time you sit down with your family for a mouth-watering home-cooked meal, or if you’re out on a luxurious dinner date, remember to give the chef of the night a compliment in Japanese. 

Use it in a sentence: “The oishii quotient was off the charts at Green Queen’s latest vegan dinner.”

6. Wabi-sabi

Wabi-sabi is a perspective that accepts transience and imperfection in aesthetics. It is about seeing beauty in something that might conventionally be perceived as incomplete or imperfect, and appreciating that things are not always permanent. In design, qualities of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetrical shapes, roughness, minimalism, and natural. In a broader sense, the term means to find natural objects and our surrounding environments fascinating. The Japanese, for instance, often use the term to describe fading autumn leaves – changing over time, imperfect, yet beautiful.

Use it in a sentence: I’m all about wabi-sabi these days- perfection is so overrated.

7. Ikigai

We saved the best-known one for last, of course. Ikigai is the now-famous Japanese concept that roughly translates to “reason for being”. It is usually used to indicate what one’s purpose is, or the things that make life worth living. It is also a deeply personal term – each person’s ikigai is specific to one’s own value system, beliefs and life experiences and reflects the inner self. Activities that allow ikigai to be felt are not forced, but are spontaneous and comes out during a mental state of ease. So what’s your reason for waking up each morning?

Use it in a sentence: “It took a few years, but I’ve finally found my ikigai in life and I can’t wait to pursue my passion.”

Lead image courtesy of Pexels.

The Japanese language is unique and thanks to its ideograms it is able to express words with abundant meanings and with its own concept. In this article, we are going to share 7 Japanese words that can guide your life for the better. 

The Japanese know the concept of their words, their origin, meaning and idea thanks to the ideograms that facilitate this process. Unfortunately in Brazilians, most of the time, we do not know the origin of the words in our language.

Everything in the Japanese language has an interesting meaning and origin that can be discussed. We will go through life without knowing the whole essence of words, but we can know the important words that can guide and change our life. 

The Japanese Word Ikigai – 生き甲斐 – Life Purpose

If we are talking about words that can guide our lives, then of course we must start with a purpose, objective or motivation to live. Ikigai literally means life purpose and is a very important word for the Japanese. 

It is written with the characters of [生き] which means to live and [甲斐] which means value, effect, result or result. Ikigai is such a powerful word that it involves an entire art, philosophy, concept and secret behind the word.

There are people who dedicate their entire lives to studying Ikigai and helping others to discover the purpose of life. We have already written an article talking about this word, click here to read more about Ikigai. 

The Word Yoisho – よいしょ – EFFORT

 The word Yoisho is a little unknown, it is not usually taught in school, nor in Japanese courses. Despite all this, it is a word widely known and used among the Japanese. Yoisho is a cry of encouragement to yourself or others.

A word that is seldom written but often spoken during an action to express effort or relieve tension. For example, a group of people who are about to lift something heavy. Or it can be spoken alone when we are tense to give a certain strength. 

The most amazing thing is how this word is spoken a lot, but not written about it, thus showing its omnipresence. This word accompanies the Japanese throughout their lives, in their daily struggles. It may not seem important, but it’s a word that can move mountains. 

The word yoisho is considered a kakegoe [掛け声] a word meaning battle cry or encouragement used in events such as taiko, good odori, kabuki, undokai and others. Yoishi goes far beyond that and is part of the daily life of the Japanese. 

The Word Shouganai – 仕様がない – To accept the inevitable

THE shouganai word it means it can’t be helped, it can’t be done, it’s inevitable, there’s no solution or the like. Yet that word is not always discouraging or hopeless. 

We live in a world where the things we want don’t always work out. To say Shouganai is to accept that loud is out of your control. Many use this word to encourage people to realize that something was not their fault. 

 Accepting that something didn’t work out is a solution for us to move forward without regrets. The shou [仕様] of shouganai means path, method, resource or something specific. Since our paths don’t always work out, shouganai will help guide our lives. 

The Word Wabi Sabi – 侘び寂び – World View

The next Japanese word that will guide your life is quite comprehensive and involves a complete view of the world through aesthetics. This aesthetic sense of Japanese art is centered on acceptance, transition, and imperfection. 

Despite being a word involving art, its meaning refers to the way of life that consists of accepting life’s imperfections, the natural cycle of growth and decay. Through wabi-sabi, it is possible to empty the mind and bring tranquility. 

The aesthetics of wabi-sabi involve asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty and intimacy. It sounds difficult to explain, but wabi-sabi can affect the way we live, decorate our home and appreciate nature. 

The word Ganbatte – 頑張って – do your best

This is one of the most popular words in the Japanese language, its purpose is to encourage people to put effort into something. ganbatte It involves doing your best, going for it, staying focused, holding on, fighting, not giving up and working hard.

Ganbatte means to persevere, persist, insist and remain. Some end up translating ganbatte to good luck, as it is often said to people who are about to take a test or go through some difficulty.

I want to take this opportunity and mention another related word which is akiramenaide [諦めないで] which means don’t give up, don’t lose hope. Both words tell you to never give up on life and face hardships hard! 

The Japanese Word Kaizen – 改善 – Improvement

Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy and practice that promises to continually improve your projects, business, and even your health. Despite being applied most of the time within companies, understanding this word can help guide your life in a productive and improved way. 

The concept of kaizen can help you cut expenses, get organized and increase productivity and dedication to something. This word was one of the main factors responsible for the growth of Japan and the dedication of the Japanese to various aspects of life.

Kaizen involves being transparent, focusing on the future, changing at any time, not being negative, not looking for perfection, prioritizing quality and not putting things off. If you let kaizen guide your life, it’s sure to be one of the best. 

We have written a great article on Kaizen which you can read by clicking here. In addition, I will leave some interesting books on Kaizen below, in case you are interested in delving into the subject through reading. 

The Word Omotenashi – お持て成し – Japanese Hospitality

Omotenashi goes far beyond a simple hospitality or education, involves a reception, treatment and service without superficiality. get involved strive for the next even when not requested or needed. 

Omotenashi it involves treating your guest, client or neighbor in the best possible way. It’s like the golden rule that says «Treat others as you would like to be treated». And all this without being obligated, without expecting anything in return or for ulterior motives.

Some Egoists will find this totally unnecessary to guide our lives, but the way we treat others will affect our lives in the present or future. The lack of Omotenashi is one of the main reasons for a Catastrophic Brazil. 

Omotenashi involves other words we know in English such as humility, honesty, friendship and love. These are words that we know very well and that can guide our lives in the best possible way. 

If we apply the philosophies and lifestyles taught by all these words mentioned in the article, we will have a great compass to face all of life’s difficulties and have the best results. 

I hope you enjoyed the article, if you liked it share and leave your comments. Of the thousands of Japanese words, what other word do you find interesting to guide our lives?