Japanese word with meanings

Australian-based Alyse has travelled «The Invisible Tourist Way» for 15 years and hopes to encourage fellow travellers to do so, too. Based on her travels to 260+ cities across 32 countries, through her blog and #1 Amazon New Release book she shares passionate advice about responsible travel, history and preserving local cultures for more enriching experiences. Her dreams? Always about the next destination and how to make the most of it by «blending in.»

Japanese is a beautiful language, full of unique words to describe phenomena, feelings, and abstract ideas that cannot be neatly into a single English word. It’s one of the reasons why foreigners love to learn Japanese, as, when you experience the world through the language of another, you view life differently from how you would in your mother tongue.

Japan’s native language is full of interesting features, with complex sounds that make the language aesthetical. In this article, we provide the Japanese word first, the pronunciation second, and a contextual explanation of its meaning.

So, whether you’re learning to speak fluent Japanese, or you’re curious as to what deeper meaning you can find in life through the language, here are 21 unique Japanese words with deeper meanings and their translations.

1. 幽玄 – Yūgen

“Profound and mysterious beauty.”

This beautiful Japanese word is used in the context of a deep emotional response to a piece of art, like a Jackson Pollock painting, or nature.

Similar to the English ‘sublime’, yūgen deals with the depth of meaning we find in the world through our imaginative perception of the universe and its wonders. Our perception triggers an emotional response that cannot be explained, for it is much bigger than us alone, and yet we are part of it.

2. 懐かしい – Natsukashii

“Bringing forth happy, poignant memories of the past.”

Natsukashii is used in the context of an object, sense, or scene bringing back sentimental memories of the past that illicit a warm, poignant feeling within.

Not to be confused with the English word ‘nostalgia’, natsukashii is not related to a feeling tinged with sadness and longing. Natsukashii makes one feel grateful to have lived the memory, and move forward in life, without the desire to go back to it as it is something that cannot exist again.

3. 金継ぎ – Kintsugi

“The art of broken things.”

Kintsugi is used in the context of a broken object, like pottery, repaired with (traditionally) gold lacquer.

It’s a practice that was developed 15th century Japan that sought to create beauty out of what would have been considered worthless.

4. 侘寂 – Wabi-sabi

“Imperfect beauty.”

In terms of Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a central concept to both the language and traditional philosophy.

It comes from the teachings of Buddhism, Japan’s most popular religion alongside Shinto, about the transient, imperfect nature of life itself. Wabi-sabi serves to remind us that all things are impermanent, incomplete, and imperfect, which means that perfection is ultimately impossible. Therefore, we should always try to see the beauty in everything.

Japanese craftsmen often create or leave imperfections in their work, making their craft a physical symbol of this philosophy.

5. 木漏れ日 – Komorebi

“Dappled sunlight filtered through tree leaves.”

Have you ever walked through a wooded area, or Japanese garden, on a sunny summer’s day, and seen beams of light shining through the canopy? Or the dappled effect of those beams on the forest floor? That is komorebi.

This wonderful word is also used to describe the feeling of longing to be near someone who is too far away for you to visit, and missing their presence and all that it brings.

6. 生きがい – Ikigai

“A reason for being.”

Ikigai describes your reason for being, the reason you get up in the morning. Be it a family member, hobby, pet, or profession, Ikigai is how you would describe the thing that keeps you going through your ups and downs, and motivates you to move forward in life.

The Japanese believe that everyone has an Ikigai, it’s just a matter of finding it.

7. 物の哀れ – Mono-No-Aware

“The poignant sadness of impermanent things.”

Zen Buddhism teaches that all things are both imperfect and impermanent. Mono-no-aware is the poignant sadness of this awareness, which is beautiful in itself.

For example; the beauty of spring. After a long and bleak winter, we observe the beauty of fresh leaves on the trees, and pink cherry blossoms blooming as spring rolls in. But, the seasons are transient, and, if you feel a notable sadness that this state of natural beauty is only a moment in time that cannot last forever, that is Mono-no-aware.

In Japanese culture, mono-no-aware means you must take time to be present, and appreciate the impermanence of such natural beauty.

8. 守りたい – Mamori Tai

“I will always protect you.”

This heartfelt sentiment is typically reserved for when you’re expressing your feelings to a loved one, be it a family member, close friend, or romantic partner.

9. いただきます – Itadakimasu

“I humbly receive.”

In Japanese culture, Itadakimasu is often said before every meal. It is said to show appreciation for the work that went into the meal, at every stage; for the time and patience it took to grow the organic produce, the life of the animal or fish that now provides reviving protein and nutrients, and the love and care that went into preparing the finished meal.

It’s very utterance provides the diner a moment to be mindful and appreciative of the act of dining as a process of many, instead of one.

10. 森林浴 – Shinrin-yoku

“Forest bathing.”

This word translates literally; ‘shinrin’ means forest, and ‘yoku’ translates as bathing.

It’s scientifically recognised that walking among trees and nature can induce an inner sense of balance, lowering your blood pressure and cortisol levels. Shinrin-yoku is a word that describes that experience, but in more spiritual terms, referring to the calm that washes over us when immersed in a forest as a return to our natural essence.

11. 木枯らし – Kogarashi

“Wintry wind.”

This word is typically used to describe the first gusts of cold wind that signals the arrival of winter. The kind of wind that seems to penetrate beneath the skin, raising goosebumps, and sending a shiver through your body.

12. ふるさと – Furusato

“One’s hometown.”

Although furusato describes your hometown, at its core, the word refers to the place you feel your heart belongs. This place may not be where you were born or where you find yourself in the present, but it’s where you feel most at home and hold in your heart.

13. 浮世 – Ukiyo

“Floating world.”

This short Japanese word holds a layering of surprisingly deep and complex meanings. It’s a homophonous word that’s relatively uncommon, but interesting nonetheless – we had to include it!

In its origins, the term ‘ukiyo’ was associated with Buddhism and meant “transient, unreliable world”. Literally, ukiyo translates as “浮” floating, “世” world/society.

The word gained popularity in Edo-period Japan, specifically Yoshiwara, to describe the urban lifestyle and culture that existed at the time. Yoshiwara was home to (and infamous for) the licensed red-light district (now Tokyo), and a variety of late-night entertainment establishments, frequented by the Japanese middle class thrill-seekers of the time. It implies a dreamlike quality to the district, where nothing is as it seems.

Today, ukiyo is used to refer to a state of mind, emphasising being present in the moment and detaching one’s self from the stress and difficulties of life in order to truly live.

14. 一期一会 – Ichi-go ichi-e

“Treasuring an unrepeatable moment.”

Ichi-go ichi-e literally translates to “one time, one meeting”, but is used to describe the Japanese cultural concept of treasuring an unrepeatable moment.

The term stands to remind people that no moment in life can be repeated, our lives are made up of a series of unique moments and events that will never happen again.

For example, you go for tea with a group of friends and have a lovely time – that moment can never be repeated. You might try to replicate – inviting the same group of friends, to the same tea house, and ordering the same beverages – but, no matter how many variables are the same as it was before, it’s a separate experience, and it cannot truly be the same as it was.

Fittingly, the concept is most commonly used in relation to Japanese tea ceremonies.

15. 風物詩 – Fuubutsushi

“Things which remind of a season.”

For example, the smell of cherry blossoms might remind you of spring, whereas the smell of a log burner may signal that winter is approaching. Those smells are fuubutsushi.

Fuubutsushi applies to textures, flavours, and scenes/images, too.

16. 恋の予感 – Koi no yokan

“A premonition of love.”

In the Western world, many will have heard of, or even experienced, “love at first sight”, but koi no yokan is different.

Koi no yokan occurs when you first meet someone and know that, although you may not be in love with them at first sight, you will be in the near future.

17. 積ん読 – Tsundoku

“Acquiring books, but letting them pile up without reading them.”

Yes, there’s a word for that odd habit you have, and, if there’s a word for it, that means it’s more universal than you thought!

With so much going on in our perpetually busy lives these days, sometimes it’s hard to find the time to read as much as we’d like. You buy one or two books to tick off your reading list, and make a start on the first. But, then, you hear about another book that’s meant to be amazing, so you go to the bookshop, and walk out with four.

Before you know it, you practically have a library in your home, the majority of which haven’t been read. That is tsundoku (“積む” tsumu, ‘to pile up’, and “読” doku, ‘reading’) – don’t worry, it’s common!

18. 食い倒れ – Kuidaore

“To eat until you’re bankrupt.”

Kuidaore is a fun, cool Japanese word with a deep meaning that had to make our top 21 list. It’s used by foodies who love to go out to eat, be it at restaurants or street food markets.

It’s a word commonly found in Dōtonbori, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan, and one of our top 20 places to visit in Japan. Dōtonbori is home to a dazzling array of nighttime entertainment and, thanks to its wide variety of mouthwatering restaurants, is considered the best place in Osaka for food and drink, too. You’ll find the phrase kuidaore in Dōtonbori’s tourist guides and advertisements, encouraging visitors to indulge in the many cuisines until you simply can’t eat any more (or, afford to!).

Kuidaore is sometimes romanised (romanticised Japanese) as cuidaore, which is part of the proverb: 「京都の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ」, meaning “ruin yourself with fashions in Kyoto, ruin yourself with meals in Osaka”.

19. 甘美な (かんび な) – Kanbina

“A word that sounds sweet and pleasant to the ear.”

A fitting addition to our list, kanbina is an expression used when a word a beautiful to hear – and the Japanese language is full of such words. It might be the way the word rolls off the tongue, the shape of the sounds, or the meaning behind it that makes it sweet and pleasant to the ear. It can also be used to compliment someone, or flirt with them, when they first tell you their name.

20. 奇妙 – Kimyou

“Strange, odd and/or mysterious.”

Kimyou can be used to describe situations, objects, or locations that strike you as mysterious, or strange. For example, a misty cemetery, an optical illusion, or an anonymous letter.

21. 花霞 – Hanagasumi

“A mist of flowers.”

An image common in springtime across Japan is a flurry of cherry blossom petals on the wind, so many that it appears like a haze of white and pink. Hanagasumi is the word the Japanese use to describe the sight, and, hopefully, you’ll have the opportunity to experience it first-hand.

We hope you enjoyed our list of Japanese words with deep meanings, perhaps one or two have been powerful enough to add a layer of meaning to your life. If you’re looking to further your knowledge of the Japanese language, the best way to learn is to immerse yourself in the culture. Get in touch today to find out how you can make you can explore Japan whilst earning a living.

Did you know that in the Japanese language, there are many words with multiple meanings? These words can come across very differently depending on the situation you use them in!

In this blog article, we will be sharing with you 10 Japanese words that have multiple meanings, some of which you might even find very familiar too!

1.　はい Hai

はい Hai literally means “yes” in English.

Everywhere you go in Japan, you can hear people saying “はい, はい” (hai, hai) when talking to others. In this case, the other meaning of はい (hai) is “I understand what you are saying” or simply put, being “affirmative”. This links with Aizuchi, which are Japanese conversational interjections, to show active listening. When はい (hai) is used in a conversation, it shows that the listener has attention and interest towards the speaker. Hence, saying はい (hai) does not always necessarily mean that you are agreeing with the other person, but just confirming what they said!

2.　難しい Muzukashii

難しい (Muzukashii) means “difficult” in English.
難しい (Muzukashii) can also be used as a way to refuse someone politely when they ask you to do something. Instead of being straightforward to reject, you can use “難しいですね” to tell the other person ambiguously that you are reluctant.
Sentence Example:
A: 貴社での就職を手伝ってくれませんか? Kishadeno shushoku o tetsudattekuremasenka?
(Could you help me get the job at your company?)
B: 難しいですね.. Muzukashii desune..
(No I can’t..)

3.　結構 Kekkou

When you search up the meaning of 結構 (kekkou), you may find yourself with a few definitions, such as “wonderful; nice”, “enough” and “quite; reasonably”. 結構 (kekkou) can be used in many ways, and the meaning can also vary depending on the tone of your voice!

When you want to describe something as “wonderful; nice”, you can say 結構です (kekkou desu).

Another way to use 結構 (kekkou) is when saying no to someone. For example, when someone offers to pour you a drink, you can say 結構です(kekkou desu), meaning “No, thank you, I’ve had enough”.

One other common way to use 結構 (kekkou) is “quite” or “reasonably”. If you want to say that something was quite fun, you can say 結構楽しかった (kekkou tanoshikatta).

4.　どうも Doumo

どうも (Doumo) is a versatile word that can be used in many ways. It can be used to stress your feelings, whether it is for appreciating or apologizing.

どうも (doumo) can be used as an informal way of saying “hello”, “goodbye”, “thank you”, “sorry” and “very”.

Sentence Examples:

1) To use as “hello” or “goodbye” or “glad to meet you”: どうも Doumo

2) To use as “thank you”: どうもありがとう。 Doumo arigato.

3) To use as “sorry”: どうもすみません。 Doumo sumimasen.

5.　ちょっと Chotto

ちょっと (Chotto) is one of the most useful words in the Japanese language that has a wide range of meanings.

ちょっと (Chotto) literally means “a little” in English. It can also mean “a while; a moment” and “rather; pretty”. You can use ちょっと (Chotto) in a situation when something is not easy for you and you want to say no in an ambiguous way.

Sentence Examples:

ちょっとだけ日本語が話せる。Chotto dake nihongoga hanaseru.

(I speak Japanese a little.)

ちょっと待って下さい！Chotto matte kudasai!

(Please wait for a moment!)

昨日のテストちょっと難しかったよ。Kinou no tesuto chotto muzukashikattayo.

(Yesterday’s test was rather difficult)
A: 昼ご飯を一緒に食べませんか？Hirugohan o isshoni tabemasenka?
(Do you want to eat lunch together?)
B: 用事があるので、ちょっと。。。Youji ga aru node, chotto…
(I have some things to do so…)

6.　やばい Yabai

やばい (Yabai) originally means “dangerous” and is used to mean “Look out!” or “Heads up!”. Now, やばい (Yabai) is more commonly known as a slang word that is used for just about anything, positive or negative. It can mean ‘Shoot!’ or ’super’ when describing something.

Sentence Examples:

この携帯電話やばい高いよね？Kono keitai denwa yabai takai yone?

(This mobile phone is super expensive, don’t you think so?)

やばい！バスにのりお売れる！Yabai! Basuni noriokureru!

(Shoot! I’m going to miss the bus!)

7.　甘い Amai

甘い (Amai) means “sweet” in English and is used to describe food. Another meaning of 甘い (Amai) is “naive”, which you can use to describe a person!

8.　しろ Shiro

しろ (Shiro) means “white” in English.
You can also use しろ (Shiro) to describe someone who is “pure” or “innocent”.

9.　くろ Kuro

くろ (Kuro) means “black” in English and can also be used to describe a “guilty” person.

10.　そば Soba

そば (Soba) is often known as the noodle “soba”, but it also means “nearby”!

Start taking Japanese lessons and learn the meaning of more Japanese words at Coto Academy!

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“If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.”

‒ Ludwig Wittgenstein

Do you agree with this quote? I know I do. Many languages have beautiful and unique words which cannot be translated precisely. These words often represent concepts which are so unique to that culture, there is simply no equivalent in any other language.

We’ve collected 12 of our favourite beautiful Japanese words with no exact English equivalent.

Of course, most of these ‘untranslatable words’ can be translated literally – after all, we did our best to provide translations in this article! But the concepts are unique, and so they require some explanation for English speakers.

The interesting thing about these Japanese words with deep meaning is that they reveal a lot about the Japanese character. Many of these words reflect Buddhist concepts which are unknown to most Westerners, but are central ideas in Japanese society.

By learning these unique Japanese words, you are one step closer to understanding the Japanese soul.

Shinrinyoku (森林浴)

Shinrinyoku literally translates as ‘forest bath’. It refers to taking a walk in the forest for its restorative and therapeutic benefits. Can’t you feel yourself relaxing as you soak up all the lovely green light? Scientists have actually found that walking in the forest has many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and stress hormones. It seems the Japanese are one step ahead with their shinrinyoku practise!

Komorebi (木漏れ日)

Komorebi is an aesthetic Japanese word meaning ‘the sunlight filtered through leaves on trees’. This is a beautiful word to describe a beautiful moment. You can enjoy some komorebi while taking your shinrinyoku!

Kuidaore (食い倒れ)

Kuidaore means something like ‘to eat yourself bankrupt’. The word implies a kind of extravagant love of good food and drink – so much love that you will happily spend all your money on it! It comes from the words 食い (kui – eating) and 倒れる (daoreru – to go bankrupt, be ruined).

Kuidaore has come to be associated with the Dōtonbori district in Osaka, famed for its many restaurants and nightlife spots. You have been warned!

Tsundoku (積ん読)

Here’s one for the book lovers. Tsundoku is the practise of acquiring books and letting them pile up, unread. Anyone who just loves books but doesn’t have time to read them as fast as they buy them will understand this one. It uses the words 積む (tsumu – to pile up) and 読 (doku – to read). It’s also a clever pun, because tsunde oku means ‘pile up and leave’.

Wabi-sabi  (侘寂)

Wabi-sabi means imperfect or incomplete beauty. This is a central concept in Japanese aesthetics, which comes from Buddhist teachings on the transient nature of life. A pot with a uneven edges is more beautiful than a perfectly smooth one, because it reminds us that life is not perfect.

Kintsugi (金継ぎ)

Another cool Japanese word, kintsugi (金継ぎ), also known as kintsukuroi (金繕い), is the practise of mending broken pottery with gold or silver to fill the cracks. This is a perfect example of wabi-sabi. Rather than rejecting a broken item, you can find a way to make it even more beautiful. This practise accepts the break as part of the object’s unique history.

Mono no aware (物の哀れ)

Mono no aware can be translated as ‘the sadness of things’. It comes from the words 物 (mono – thing) and 哀れ (aware – poignancy or pathos). The ‘sadness’ in question comes from an awareness of the transience of things, as taught by Zen Buddhism.

When we view something exceptionally beautiful, we might feel sad because we know it won’t stay so beautiful forever – but appreciation only heightens the pleasure we take in the beautiful thing in that moment.

The best example of mono no aware in Japanese culture is hanami, the ritual of appreciating the cherry blossoms each year. Cherry blossom are very special to the Japanese, but the flowers bloom for only two weeks in the springtime. We appreciate the flowers even more because we know they will fall soon.

Related post: 16+ Essential Japanese Words for Spring

Irusu (居留守)

Irusu is when somebody you don’t want to speak to rings your doorbell, and you pretend nobody’s at home. I think people do this the world over, even if other languages don’t have such a concise word for it!

Nekojita (猫舌)

Here’s a cute one! A nekojita is a person who is sensitive to hot foods and drinks. It literally translates as cat tongue! It’s made from the two words 猫 (neko – cat) and‎ 舌 (shita – tongue). Do cats really hate hot things? I don’t know, but this cute Japanese word implies that they do!

Karoshi (過労死)

The sad Japanese word karoshi means death from overworking. Tragically, the fact that there is a word for this in Japanese also tells you something about Japanese culture.

Karoshi is usually associated with Japanese salarymen who work in a corporate culture of extreme long hours. The Japanese Ministry of Labour official defines karoshi as when somebody works over 100 hours of overtime in the month before their death. The phenomenon reached an all time high in 2016.

Shoganai (しょうがない)

If you live in Japan, this one will be very useful for you! Shoganai means ‘it can’t be helped’. It’s a fatalistic resignation to a situation that is out of your control. It is often used to mean that there is no point complaining about a situation, because you will not have the power to change it.

Some people suggest that the concept of shoganai is why Japanese people remain so stoic in the face of natural disasters such as tsunami and earthquakes.

Natsukashii (懐かしい)

The beautiful Japanese word natsukashii is often translated as ‘nostalgic’. However, whereas nostalgia is a sad emotion in English, natsukashii is associated with positive (yet poignant) feelings. Something is natsukashii if it allows you to relive happy memories of the past. It comes from the verb natsuku (懐く), meaning ‘to become attached to’, and could also be loosely translated as ‘fondly remembered’ or ‘beloved’. This warm but wistful feeling makes it one of the most aesthetic Japanese words.

Yoroshiku (宜しく)

Yoroshiku is probably the most common word on this list, and the word you’re most likely to come across if you’re a beginner studying Japanese! Still, yoroshiku is a great example of an untranslatable Japanese word. 

Yoroshiku can mean different things in different contexts but the basic meaning is ‘please be good to me’. Of course, that sounds pretty awkward in English, which is why it’s so difficult to translate. 

Depending on the context, yoroshiku or its more formal version, yoroshiku onegaishimasu could be translated as ‘nice to meet you’, ‘best wishes’, ‘I look forward to working with you​’, ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. We usually say it when we first meet someone, when we ask someone for a favour, when we are about to start a project together, or when we simply want to express good will. 

Itadakimasu (いただきます)

This is another unique, untranslatable Japanese word that even beginners should know. Japanese people always say itadakimasu before eating. Since we don’t have an equivalent word in English, we often borrow from another language to translate it – the French phrase bon appétit! 

However, even this is not a true translation. The key meaning of itadakimasu is gratitude for the food. When you say itadakimasu, you are thanking everyone and everything involved in putting the food on your table – from the farmers, the shopkeepers and the chefs to the food itself. Perhaps, spiritually, it’s closer to saying the Christian tradition of saying grace before a meal.

Itadakimasu comes from the verb itadaku (頂く / いただく ), which is the humble form of the verb ‘to receive’. You can also say it when receiving a physical object, or asking for a favour.

Bimyou (微妙)

The dictionary has several translations of bimyou: subtle, delicate, doubtful, complex. As if that isn’t vague enough, bimyou has another kind of usage as a Japanese slang word.

Japanese people often describe something as bimyou when they don’t care or don’t really like it, but they don’t want to say that directly. It can also be a way to say something is unnecessary or a little bit off. And if you respond to an invitation with bimyou, that’s basically an indirect way to say no in Japanese. Depending on the context, in English we might say ‘meh’, ‘not really’ or ‘hmmm…’.

Yūgen (幽玄) 

Thanks to reader Curi for suggesting this beautiful Japanese word! Yūgen means something like ‘profound, mysterious beauty’. It is often used in the context of a deep emotional response to art, literature, or the beauty of the natural world. It also can imply a level of sadness at the suffering of the human condition. 

This is the feeling you might get when you watch a beautiful sunset or stare out at the ocean, and think about how small you are in the context of the universe. Yūgen has a big influence on Japanese art forms such as landscape painting and Noh theatre.

Ikigai (生き甲斐)

Ikigai is a beautiful Japanese word that refers to one’s life purpose or reason to live. This is another one where we often borrow the translation from French, because we lack the words in English: raison d’être.

It’s the thing that gives us a reason to get out of bed each morning. It could be work, a hobby, family or something else. Some experts suggest that ikigai is one reason why people live so long in Japan.

Of all the Japanese words with meaning in this article, ikigai is one that could literally change your life!

Wa (和) 

Wa can be translated as harmony or peace. It can carry meanings such as avoiding conflict, preserving social unity, and visual harmony (for example, presenting your food beautifully on your dinner plate!) 

Wa is a central concept in Japanese culture that affects everything from architecture to workplace politics. In fact, it is so central in Japan that wa is the old name for Japan, and it is used to refer to Japanese style things (as opposed to western/foreign). Some useful Japanese words using ‘wa’ in this way are:

• 和風 (wafuu) – Japanese style (e.g. food, restaurant)
• 和室 (washitsu) – Japanese style room
• 和服 (wafuku) – traditional Japanese clothing
• 和紙 (washi) – Japanese paper

Koi no yokan (恋の予感)

In English, we often talk about ‘love at first sight’. Koi no yokan is slightly different: it’s when you meet someone and perhaps you don’t fall in love straight away, but you have a very strong feeling that you will fall for them in the future! It can be translated literally as ‘love’s premonition’.

Kuchisabishii (口寂さびしい) 

The cool Japanese word kuchisabishii translates literally as ‘lonely mouth’. Sounds cute, right? It’s used when you eat mindlessly, perhaps because you’re bored, rather than hungry. Your mouth is lonely and you’ve got to fill it up! You can say it about cigarettes as well as food.

Mottainai (もったいない)

Mottainai can most simply be translated as ‘wasteful’, but the full meaning goes deeper than that. Like many of the words on this list, mottainai has its roots in Buddhism and the concept that all things are precious. 

You will typically hear people say it if someone wastes food, or throws away an object that could be reused. You can also say it about yourself to seem humble. For example, if someone gives you a gift and you say mottainai, you’re saying ‘don’t waste this beautiful object on me! I’m not worth it!’ Similarly, you could say it about your partner, to mean that you don’t deserve such a great person in your life.

Bureikou (無礼講)

Bureikou is a situation where you can be completely at ease: all pressure’s off, you can say and do what you like, and you don’t have to worry about status or hierarchy. An example of a bureikou is a company party when bosses and employees get drunk together and can speak as equals. Since social hierarchy is usually very important in Japan, holding a bureikou party is a way that bosses can encourage their employees to relax. 

Coincidentally, this word is easy to remember because it sounds a bit like the English word break.

Furusato (故郷)

The kanji of furusato (故郷) mean old (故) village (郷). It is usually translated as ‘hometown’. However, although at first glance this word seems to have a simple translation, I would class furusato as an untranslatable Japanese word because it carries a lot of nuances that are missing from the English word! 

For a start, furusato has rural connotations. While it can be used to describe someone’s literal hometown or birthplace (especially by people from the countryside), it is sometimes used to talk about the Japanese countryside in general. It’s a romantic, nostalgic word and conjures images of a traditional way of life. 

People born in Tokyo would not describe the city as their furusato, but they might use that word to talk about their grandparents’ place in the country. The feeling is something like a ‘spiritual homeland’. Furusato is a common theme in Japanese music, literature and art.

Majime (真面目)

Majime is an adjective that is usually translated as ‘serious’. Again, while at first glance this seems easy to translate, it’s kind of an untranslatable Japanese word because it has slightly different connotations in Japanese than in English. Other ideas evoked by this word are earnest, responsible, reliable and trustworthy.

In English, ‘serious’ can often feel negative. If you describe someone as serious, you might be saying that they are too uptight and don’t know how to have fun. But in Japanese, majime is a positive quality that means you respect and trust someone. You would want to hire a majime employee for your business, or take a majime partner home to meet your parents!

Majime can be shortened to maji (マジ), often used in the format maji de?! (マジで) which is slang for ‘seriously?/no way!’

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• 27 Beautiful and Inspirational Japanese Quotes
• 9+ Stunning Japanese Words For ‘Beautiful’
• 70+ Beautiful Japanese Nature Words to Inspire You

Do you know any beautiful or untranslatable Japanese words? Share them with us in the comments!

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This article was first published on 01 April 2017 and last updated on 17 January 2022.

The Japanese culture is known for its appreciation of nature and for finding beauty in simplicity. It is no wonder then that their language reflects the zen-like beauty their culture emanates. There are hundreds of untranslatable Japanese words that have no English counterpart. Attempts to translate these beautiful Japanese words into English result in poetic descriptions that warm the soul.

Beautiful and Untranslatable Japanese Words with No English Equivalent

The pronunciations alone of these untranslatable Japanese words ooze beauty as they roll off the tongue. But their meanings paint beautiful imagery that English speakers can only wish to encompass in a single word.

1. Flower Petal Storm

Hanafubuki is usually used to describe how cherry blossom petals float down en-masse, like snowflakes in a blizzard. I certainly wouldn’t mind being caught in this storm.

2. Beauty in Imperfection

When you adopt a wabisabi perspective, you accept that life is imperfect and, therefore, can appreciate the beauty of imperfect things. Japanese artists embrace wabisabi by purposely leaving imperfections in their artwork. For instance, a knot left in a wood carving or a crack in a piece of pottery.

3. Collecting Books with Reading

Booklovers are all too familiar with the truth behind the Japanese word tsundoku. In English, this untranslatable Japanese word describes the act of piling up books that you never get around to reading.

4. Memories That Warm the Heart

While the Japanese word ‘natsukashii’ does have an English equivalent in the word ‘nostalgia,’ the use and meaning of the word are quite different. Natsukashii is used quite often in everyday language in Japan. When used, Japanese people are not saying “nostalgia”; they are expressing a feeling that warms the heart because it brings back memories.

5. It Is What It Is

We are all familiar with the English expression that we use when we can’t do anything about a situation or when we give up because it’s out of our control. “It is what it is,” we say. But the Japanese wrap this up into one untranslatable Japanese word: Shoganai.

6. Just Be Yourself

Often used at company outings, the Japanese word Bureikou (which, coincidentally, sounds like ‘break’ in English) releases people from the confines of social status to just be themselves. It is a way to tell people to take a break from the pressures of the real world to be who you are without consequence.

7. Selfless Hospitality

Omotenashi is an untranslatable Japanese word that represents careful thoughtfulness. It is the type of hospitality that puts the customer or guest first without the expectation of anything in return.

8. Mouth Lonely

‘Kuchisabishii’ makes the list because the literal translation is cute and oh-so appropriate to express its meaning. When you are ‘mouth lonely’ you eat out of boredom rather than hunger.

9. Leaves Changing Colour

Like Hanafubuki is used in Cherry Blossom season, Kouyou is used as Autumn arrives. Kouyou is a way to say, “The leaves are changing colour, so Autumn is near.”

10. I Humbly Receive with Gratitude

Usually spoken before eating, ‘Itadakimasu’ is often translated as ‘bon appetit’ but much of the meaning is lost by doing so. Itadakimasu is beautifully nuanced to express gratefulness to all those responsible for producing the meal, from the farmers to the grocers to the cooks, and so on.

11. A Cold Wind of Winter

As winter approaches, Japanese people will use the word ‘Kogarashi’ every time a bitingly cold wind sends shivers down their spine.

12. Sunlight Leaking Through the Trees

In a single untranslatable Japanese word, ‘Komorebi’ illustrates a beautiful forest with sunlight peeking through the leaves of the trees. What English word could compare?

13. Bitter Sweetness of Fading Beauty

Though technically this is three words in Japanese, ‘Mono no aware’ shows an appreciation for things that quickly pass or are soon lost. This phrase is often used to describe the short Cherry Blossom season.

14. A Profound Sense of the Universe

Yugen describes the emotional response one feels when they consider things too big to comprehend, like how many stars are in the universe, or the mysteries of creation.

15. Soaking in the Forest

Literally translated to ‘Forest Bathing,’ Shinrin-yoku describes spending time in the forest to reduce stress, which has been clinically proven to be effective.

16. Worth Living For

Ikigai is a person’s reason for being. It’s the passion, purpose, or value that makes life worth living.

17. Love is Inevitable

Often translated as ‘Love at first sight,’ ‘Koi no Yokan’ is not quite the head-over-heels love you’d expect from the mistranslation. More accurately, it means you are bound to fall in love even if you don’t feel it now.

18. Light of a River in Darkness

Just like many untranslatable Japanese words, kawaakari conjures an entire landscape in the mind’s eye. This word refers to light reflected off a river at night or dusk.

19. From Strangers to Family

Ichariba chode embraces the spirit of friendliness to strangers. In ways, it can be compared to the sentiment of ‘Mi casa es su casa’ but more accurately means ‘from strangers to brothers or sisters.’

20. Golden Repair

In the way wabisabi embraces imperfections, kintsukuroi (or kintsugi) repairs pottery with gold or silver. Instead of trying to blend and hide the imperfection, kintsukuroi highlights its beauty.

21. Can’t Be Touched

Kyouka suigetsu is a Japanese phrase that can’t be easily translated into English. It refers to something that is visible but can’t be touched, like the moon’s reflection on the water. Or, an emotion that can’t be described in words.

22. An Unattainable Goal

Literally translated as ‘flower on a high peak,’ ‘takane no hana’ describes something that is beyond your reach.

23. Viewing the Moon

Japanese festivals often revolve around nature. Tsukimi is the act of viewing the moon, which is often enjoyed en-masse during moon-viewing festivals in September or October.

Translating Untranslatable Japanese Words

The Japanese language is filled with words that are very descriptive in their simplicity. A single word can have more depth and impact that is difficult to capture in other languages. When there is no English equivalent, translators must explore the nuances of a word’s meaning and endeavour to convey a word’s true meaning.

Check out our other article on “The 7 Hardest Languages to Translate into English” and learn more about Avo Translations’ experienced team of translators.