Word for meaning in japanese

What does “By no means are you meant to mean it, you meany” mean in Japanese?

Okay, let me guess what you are thinking now : “what the…”.

What I MEAN is that this tiny 4-letter word has
ridiculous amounts of MEANINGS that Japanese people have to learn.

If you are a native speaker of English, you probably didn’t think of it. But you’ll see.

For mainly intermediate or advanced students 
But beginners can also learn something from this. So just enjoy!

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1. Meaning – as in “what does this mean?”. 

Meaning as a noun – 意味 imi 

We have a verb that means “to mean” (意味する imi-suru)

But don’t use this one unless you need to write something super formal.

Usually use this :

Formally 

Aはなんという意味ですか。 A wa nan to iu imi desu ka 
What does A mean?　(nan – lit. What)

Aはどういう意味ですか。 A wa dou iu imi desu ka. 
(Dou – lit. How)

ＡはＢという意味です。 A wa B to iu imi desu. 
A means B. (lit. Talking about A, it is a meaning of “B”.)

*Do not repeat “A wa~” if it was mentioned in a question. *

例 E.g

「合って（い）る」はなんという意味ですか。

/ 「合って（い）る」はどういう意味ですか。

“atte(i)ru” wa nan to iu imi desu ka

/ “atte(i)ru” wa dou iu imi desu ka.

What does “atte(i)ru” mean?

「正しい」などの意味です。

“tadashii” nado no imi desu.

It means “correct / right” and so on.

*正しい（です） tadashii (desu) is very formal, so when we speak, we rather use
“合っていますよ atte imasu yo (form.) or 合ってるよ atteru yo (inf.)*

Informally
(just change という to iu into て te and get rid of ですか desuka)

A はなんて意味？ A wa nan te imi?
Ａ はどういう意味？ A wa dou iu imi?

Or even more colloquially and the most common / native way :

Ａってどういう意味？ A tte dou iu imi?
Or

A ってなに？ A tte nani? – What is A?
(more casual than A はなに）

*This is what teachers or textbooks do not tell you 
Just be careful not to use it when you need to talk formally.*

AはＢって意味。 A wa B tte imi.

A means B.

例 E.g

「ミスる」はなんて意味？ Misu-ru wa nan te imi?
/ 「ミスる」ってどういう意味？ Misu-ru tte dou iu imi?
/ 「ミスる」ってなに？ Misu-ru tte nani?

–   俗語で、「失敗する」って意味。
Zokugo (slang) de, shippai-suru tte imi.

What does “misu-ru” mean?

–  It is a slang word and it means “to fail”.

*ミスる misu-ru comes from the English word “to miss” in a sense of “to fail” like “I missed the ball!”.

「あー、ミスった。」 ah, misutta.
can be translated like “Ah I failed / made a mistake.” or “Ah I shouldn’t have done that.”  *

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1. “What do you mean?”
   – as in “What are you trying to say? I don’t get it.”

You will use these when you understand the meaning of the words
but do not understand what they are trying to tell you.

Formally

~とはどういうことですか

~ to wa dou iu KOTO desu ka

(extra と to in the beginning is added compared to “what does ~mean”?)

E.g

仕事を辞めるとはどういうことですか。

Shigoto wo yameru to wa dou iu koto desu ka.

“What do you mean by quitting your job?”

Also as a headline or titles for books, ～とはどういうことか。 can be found a lot.

There is a book called 「学ぶとはどういうことか」 “manabu” to wa dou iu koto ka.

It’s not asking what the word “manabu” literally means,
but what it actually means or what does learning mean to you (us).

Informally

~ってどういうこと

~ tte dou iu koto

E.g

「行けなくなったってどういうこと？！約束したのに！」

Ike-naku-natta tte dou iu koto?! Yakusoku shita noni!

“What do you mean, you can’t go?! You promised!”

「知らないってどういうこと！」

Shir-anai tte dou iu koto!

“What do you mean, you don’t know!”

Like in English, it sounds like you are blaming.

So ” ～と / ～って　＋　どういう　＋　こと” is used

when you basically have no clue and says “What do you mean by that?!”
But if you have a clue and try to make it clear, and want to say
“Do you mean…?” Then get rid of どう dou.

E.g 例

Formally 

「仕事をやめるということですか。」

Shigoto wo yameru to iu koto desu ka.

“You mean, you are going to quit your job?”

Informally

「明日行くってこと？」

Ashita iku tte koto?
“You mean, we (you) are going TOMORROW?”

女の人「わたし、妊娠しちゃった。」

男の人「え、俺は父親になるってこと？！」

Onna no hito “watashi, ninshin shi-chatta”
otoko no hito “e, ore wa chichi-oya ni naru tte koto?!”
Woman “I…got pregnant.”
Man “What, you mean, I’m gonna be a dad?!”

These “ということ / ってこと (to iu koto / tte koto)”
can be at the beginning of a sentence as well.
Pay attention that we add は wa in this case.

Formally

上司「明日から来なくていいよ。」

部下「ということは、クビですか・・。」

Joushi “ashita kara konakute ii yo”

Buka “to iu koto wa, kubi desu ka…”
Boss “You don’t have to come from tomorrow.”
His staff (Someone works under a boss) 
“So it means ( you mean)…I’m fired…?”

Informally

女の人「わたし、妊娠しちゃった。」

男の人「え、ってことは、俺は父親になるの？！」
Onna no hito “watashi, ninshin shichatta”
otoko no hito “e, tte koto wa, ore wa chichi-oya ni naru no?!”
Woman “I got pregnant.”
Man “What, so you mean (it means) I’m going to be a dad?!”

The word “つまり tsumari” is often used instead of these.

女の人「できちゃったの・・・。」

男の人「え、つまり、妊娠したってこと？！」

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1. “ehm, I mean, what I’m saying is…” as a filler word. 

You use つまり tsumari just like the above sentence 

「えっと・・・いや・・・その・・・つまり・・・」

“etto…iya…sono…tsumari…”
“Ehm… Ahh… You know….I mean…”
haha

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1. It doesn’t mean that … / It’s not that…

As in “It doesn’t mean that I hate him…” 

「彼が嫌いってわけじゃないよ。」

Kare ga kirai tte wake ja nai yo.

= 「彼が嫌いなわけじゃないよ。」

Kare ga kirai NA wake janai yo.

*Remember? Kirai-NA is NA adjective.*

So you use 「～ってわけじゃない ~tte wake janai」
or 「dictionary form* + わけじゃない ~+wake ja nai」

in informal speech.
*dictionary form -> So if it’s NA adjective, leave NA there.

「彼が嫌いというわけではありません。」

Kare ga kirai to iu wake dewa arimasen.
= 「彼が嫌いなわけではありません。」

Kare ga kirai na wake de wa arimasen.

And「～というわけではありません ~to iu wake dewa arimasen」

or 「dictionary form + わけではありません ~+ wake de wa arimasen」

in formal speech.

You can even say

「好きじゃないってわけじゃないけど・・・。」

Suki janai tte wake janai kedo…

“It doesn’t mean that I don’t like him…but…”

Double “janai” : D

You could translate this like “It’s not that ….” as well.

Another translation I’ve experienced was “It’s not exactly ~“.

「彼女が、俺のことをストーカーだと思ってるんだ。ま、まだ彼女ってわけじゃないけど。」

Kanojo ga, ore no koto wo sutookaa da to omotteru n da. Ma, mada kanojo tte wake ja nai kedo.

“My girlfriend thinks that I’m a stalker. Well, she’s not exactly my girlfriend yet.”

For some reason, quite a few Japanese people say this :

「死ぬわけじゃないし。」

Shinu wake ja nai shi. 
“It’s not like you are going to die. “

When you are not too sure whether you would try or not.
I’ll leave you to judge if it’s negative or positive in a way.

「めいちゃんにメールしようか、迷ってる・・・」

「すれば？死ぬわけじゃないし。」

Mei chan ni meeru shiyou ka mayotteru…
Sure ba? Shinu wake ja nai shi.

“I cannot make up my mind if I should email Mei-chan…” 
“Why not? (Do it.) It’s not like you are going to die (even if it were a wrong decision.)”

Well, I guess it could sound a bit rude or you are not interested depends on your voice tone.

Also this construction is used a lot as well :

～からって、～ってわけじゃない
~kara tte, ~ wake ja nai.
It doesn’t mean that ~, just because ~ 

「筋トレしたからって、ゴジラに勝てるってわけじゃない。」

Kintore shita kara tte, gojira ni kateru tte wake ja nai.

“It doesn’t mean that you can win over Godzilla just because you worked out.”

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1. I mean it. As in “I’m serious.”

“I saw an alien last night. I mean it.”

「昨日の晩、宇宙人を見たんだよ。マジで。」

「また嘘ばっかり。」

「マジだよ！ /or マジだってば！」

“kinou no ban, uchuu-jin wo mita n da yo. Maji de.”

“Mata uso bakkari.”

“Maji da yo! / Maji da tte ba!”
“I saw an alien last night. I mean it.”

“You are full of it, again.”

“I mean it! / I’m telling you, I mean it!”

This マジで maji de is a very common and casual expression, which means
“Seriously“.

You say “マジで maji de” usually to mean “Seriously”.
But you say “マジだよ maji da yo”,  when you want to convince someone.

The same goes for “マジだってば maji da tte ba”.
Maybe people who watch Naruto find this familiar. He says “だってばよ datte ba yo” a lot.
Well, we don’t really say “da tte ba yo” as a phrase like he does, but “~

(da) tte ba” is very common, when you want to emphasize like “I’m telling you!!!”.

「知らないってば！」 Shiranai tte ba!
“GOSH, I’m telling you, I don’t know!”

Instead of マジで, you can use “本気で honki de“, which is less informal.

For example, you can ask someone “Do you mean it?” by saying,

「本気で言ってるの？」 honki de itte-ru no?
Do you mean it? (lit. Are you saying it seriously?”

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1. I didn’t mean to…

We just simply say “I was not planning to do~“.

So “to plan to do something” in Japanese is :

「～する(or other verb) + つもり」 ~suru (or other verb) + tsumori

E.g 例

「来年、オーストリアに引っ越すつもりです。」

Rainen, oosutoria ni hikkosu tsumori desu.

“Next year, I’m planning to move to Austria.”

So just make the past-negative (じゃなかった ja na-katta) and that’s it!
「～するつもりじゃなかった」
~suru tsumori ja nakatta.

“I didn’t mean to do~“.

「ダイエットしたら、今よりもっとかわいくなるよ＾＾」

「ひどい！太ってるって言いたいの？傷ついた。」

「ごめん、傷つけるつもりじゃなかった・・・」
“daietto shitara, ima yori motto kawaiKU naru yo^^”
“Hidoi! Futotteru tte ii-tai no? Kizutsuita.”
“Gomen, kizutsukeru tsumori ja nakatta…”

“You’ll be even more cute if you go on diet :)”

“Mean! Do you wanna say that I’m fat? You hurt me (my feelings).”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you…”

If you want to say “– didn’t mean IT“, then say,

「そんなつもりじゃなかった」

Sonna tsumori ja nakatta.

So, we say “sonna” in this case 

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1. You are mean. As in “You are not nice.”

Did you already realize?
I used it in the above example in which a girl said “Are you calling me fat?! You are MEAN!”.

ひどい！ Hidoi!  – it literally means “Horrible!”

Or you can also say

意地悪！　Ijiwaru! – this is a closer feeling to “you are mean“.

This is NA adjective, so don’t forget to leave NA like “意地悪な ijiwaru-NA”
if you want to put it in front of a noun :

「意地悪な人」 ijiwaru-NA hito  – a mean person

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1. I’m meant to do~ ≒ I’m supposed to do ~

In colloquial speech, you can just use the “I need / must” form :

「～しなきゃ ~shi nakya」
which is the same as “しなければならない shi-na kereba nara-nai” form. 
Just shorter and more useful

E.g 例

「お母さんの手伝いしなきゃ。」

Okaasan no tetsudai shinakya.
“I need to (I’m supposed to) help my mum.”

In formal speech,

「～することになっている ~suru koto ni natte iru」

is used.

「明日までに、この課題を終わらせることになっています。」

Ashita mada ni, kono shigoto wo owara-seru koto ni natte imasu.

“I’m meant to finish this task by tomorrow.”

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1. By no means / By any means

There are several ways to express this, but I’ll list only a few.

Formally  / not too causal:

何としてでも nan to shite demo
You may hear this one in a drama or something.

「何としてでも、彼女を助ける！」

Nantoshitedemo, kanojo wo tasukeru!
“I’m going to save her by any means!!”

「どんな手段を使ってでも、勝つ。」

Donna shudan wo tsukatte demo, katsu.

“By any means (Lit. Using any kind of ways / methods), I’m going to win.”

By no means :

Formally :

決して～+ negative   kesshite ~ + negative

「決して、忘れないでください。」

Kesshite, wasurenai de kudasai.
“Please do not forget it by any means.”

Informally:

「絶対に忘れないでね。 」

Zettai ni wasure-nai de ne.

絶対に zettai-ni  ” absolutely” “surely”.

10. You mean a lot to me = You are very important to me.

So yeah, we use the word “important” = “大切な taisetsu na”.

「あなたは私にとって、とても大切な人。」

Anata wa watashi ni totte, totemo taisetsu na hito.

“You mean a lot to me.” (lit. You are a very important person to (for) me.”

I think you would only hear it in songs or books or maybe super romantic situation…
It’s not as common as in English.
I might even get freaked out if I would get this message aha

11. It means a lot to me. As in “It makes me happy.”

Say うれしい ureshii  or in Kanji 嬉しい。
But when you are writing to friends, use Hiragana.
Because it has warmer feeling

It was very very long. Haha

Anyways, I hope it helped you.

Your comments and support MEAN a lot to me 

コメントもサポートも、もらえたらうれしいです！

Komento mo sapooto mo, moraetara, ureshii desu!
(lit. I would be happy if I get your comments and support.)

じゃ、またね！！
Ja, mata ne!
See you again!

P.S

Does anyone dare to translate this…? ;p

What does “By no means are you meant to mean it, you meany” mean in Japanese?

If you get it right, I’ll be so amazed by your Japanese skill, and 
you can consider yourself native or super-ninja-man. Good luck   xx

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Each of these may have a slightly different meaning in Japanese.

At any rate, I’m sure you get the gist of the word’s meaning in Japanese at this point.

The studio’s name has a double meaning in Japanese: «Tatsu’s child» (Tatsu is a nickname for Tatsuo) and «sea dragon», the inspiration for its seahorse logo.

Название студии имеет двойное значение в японском: одно — «ребёнок Тацу» (Тацу — прозвище Тацуо), а второе — «морской дракон», что послужило основой для лого компании в виде морского конька.

The studio’s name has a double meaning in Japanese: «Tatsu’s child» (Tatsu is a nickname for Tatsuo) and «sea dragon», the inspiration for its seahorse logo.

Название студии имеет двойное значение в японском: одно — «ребёнок Тацу» (Тацу — прозвище Тацуо), а второе — «морской дракон», что послужило основой для лого компании в виде морского конька.

Other results

In addition to kokuji, there are kanji that have been given meanings in Japanese different from their original Chinese meanings.

Walugis’s name has a dual-meaning in Japanese.

However, it is important to remember that 20-30% of the kanji used have different meanings in Japanese and Chinese.

Sanyo — meaning three oceans in Japanese.

It has the same meaning as in Japanese.

Form and Meaning in the Japanese Cinema

The ones sent to space were cultured inside boxes in the station’s Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF), located inside the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) — also known as Kibo, meaning hope in Japanese.

Червей, отправленных в космос, культивировали в коробках Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF), расположенной внутри японского экспериментального модуля (JEM), также известного как Кибо, что означает «надежда» на японском языке.

Wago (和語) are native Japanese words, meaning those words in Japanese that have been inherited from Old Japanese, rather than being borrowed at some stage.

In our culture there is no word that defines the meaning of what in Japanese culture is called the ikigai.

В нашей культуре нет слова, определяющего значение того, что в японской культуре называется икигай.

Named Kounotori, meaning white stork in Japanese, the craft will deliver six new lithium-ion batteries and corresponding adapter plates that will replace aging nickel-hydrogen batteries for two power channels on the station’s far port truss segment.

Названный Kounotori, что означает «Белый Аист» на японском языке, корабль доставил шесть новых литий-ионных аккумуляторов и соответствующие переходные пластины, которые заменят стареющие никель-водородные аккумуляторы для двух каналов питания на дальнем сегменте левой фермы станции.

‘Aiba’ or ‘Aibar’ are transliterations for a word in Japanese meaning ‘Favorite Horse.’

Hajime, meaning ‘beginning’ in Japanese, showed its first signs of activity in October 2016.

Хаджиме (с японского означает «начало») показал первые признаки своей активности в октябре 2016 года.

It was only available in pearl white (shiro meaning «white» in Japanese).

Maru —meaning «round» in Japanese-is the first successful king penguin hatching for the park in close to a decade.

The company, Mirai, meaning «future» in Japanese, is already working with GE engineers to build «plant factories» in Hong Kong and Russia.

Компания, создавшая эту ферму — Mirai («Мирай» по-японски значит «будущее») — уже работает в сотрудничестве с инженерами «Дженерал Электрик» над тем, чтобы создать «фабрику по выращиванию» в Гонконге и России.

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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!

Hi!

Beautiful in Japanese is 美しい (utsukushii) and beauty is 美しさ (utsukushisa).

But, if you want know some beautiful Japanese words, you’re in luck.

The language is full of words and phrases that are not immediately translatable into English. Aesthetic Japanese words that don’t have an English counterpart and require explanation.

In this guide, you’ll learn 55+ beautiful words and phrases. So, let’s jump in.

1. 木枯らし Cold, Wintry Wind

• Pronunciation:
  • Kogarashi

“Kogarashi” is a chilly, cold, wintry wind. It lets you know of the arrival of winter. You know, the kind that sends the shivers down your spine and gives you goosebumps.

2. 木漏れ日 Sunlight filtering through the trees

• Pronunciation:
  • Komorebi

When sunlight filters through the tree leaves and produces rays. You know that 木 stands for tree, 漏れ/もれ means leakage and the 日 kanji stands for the sun. So, tree leakage (of the) sun.

3. 物の哀れ Bitter-sweetness of fading beauty

• Pronunciation:
  • Mono no aware

物/Mono means “thing.” And, “aware” looks like the English word, but it doesn’t have the same meaning or pronunciation. It means pity, sorrow or grief. So this refers to the “bittersweetness of fading beauty” – the acknowledged but appreciated, sad transience of things. Kind of like the last day of summer or the cherry blossoms – which don’t last long.

4. 幽玄 An awareness of the universe

• Pronunciation:
  • Yuugen

Literally it means “subtle grace” or “mysterious profundity.” This word has different meanings depending on context.  But most of the time, it refers to a profound awareness of the nature of the universe – the oneness of all things – to the point where it affects you emotionally.

Sound vague and odd? Well, don’t worry. To settle your mind, this word is not translatable and has no English equivalent… so if you’re confused, it’s okay.

5. 和 Harmony

• Pronunciation:
  • Wa

This word means peace or harmony. It implies the importance to of avoiding conflict – so as to maintain the (Wa) harmony. And it refers to Japan and the Japanese way itself.

6. 改善 Continuous improvement

• Pronunciation:
  • Kaizen

Literally, it means change for better. Whether one time or continuously – this is not implied or intended. It’s not until later that it become continuous improvement by the Japanese business world. Toyota kicked it off.

So, now, it’s just a word (used by businesses) to describe the process of “always improving” and getting better.

7. 紫 Purple

• Pronunciation:
  • Murasaki

Yes, the color purple. Why did it make the list of beautiful Japanese words?

Simply because of how it sounds to the ear. Say it with me – murasaki! Okay, there’s more. Back in the old, old days– say around the year 1400 – this color was the color of the upper class and only high level officials and Imperial family could wear it. So, this color is a pretty big deal and a pretty beautiful Japanese word, in my opinion.

8. 森林浴 Forest Bathing

• Pronunciation:
  • shinrin-yoku

So, 森林/shinrin means forest and 浴/yoku stands for bathing. And this refers to being immersed in a forest or talking a walk through the woods. It’s something to do to relax, reduce your stress and improve your health.

And studies confirm that this indeed lowers blood pressure and cortisol.

9. 奇妙 Strange, odd, or mysterious

• Pronunciation:
  • Kimyou

This is a word that can describe things that are strange or odd. For example, if you suddenly received an anonymous letter, you could use “kimyou.” It can also be used to describe creepy locations like forests, cemeteries, or houses.

10. 浮世 Floating World

• Pronunciation:
  • ukiyo

Now, this isn’t a recent term and you won’t hear it much. It’s rooted in Japan’s history. It literally does mean “浮 – float” and “世 – world/society.” Although it can also be interpreted as “transient world” or “fleeting life.” Basically, this word was used to describe Japanese life-style in Edo-period Japan, where normal people escaped the pressures of the samurai state to entertainment/pleasure districts (whether theater, tea-houses, etc.).

You won’t hear it much in everyday life.

11. 花霞 Flower Mist

• Pronunciation
  • Hanagasumi

“Hana” means flower and “gasumi.” What this word refers to is the image of Cherry Blossom trees where the white petals make it look like you’re seeing a mist or haze of white.

12. 花吹雪 Cherry Blossom Blizzard

• Pronunciation:
  • Hanafubuki

花 (Hana) means flower, petal (or cherry blossom) and 吹雪 (fubuki) means blizzard or snowstorm. However, this typically refers to Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) and how their petals come floating down, slowly, en-mass, as if a snow storm or blizzard.

Here’s a sexy example –  if it moves you, you can say you felt “yugen” or that it’s “mono no aware.”

13. 風花 Flurry of Snow in a Clear Sky

• Pronunciation:
  • Kazahana

If you go by the kanji, the first one stands for wind and the other one is for flowers. Except, this word is used to describe snow flurries in the wind. Why the flower comparison though? Well, because it’s kind of like petals in the wind.

14. 生き甲斐 Reason for Being

• Pronunciation:
  • ikigai

As the Japanese say, everyone has an ikigai. It’s what gets you up in the morning. It’s what moves you. What makes your life worthwhile. Work. Hobbies. Goals. Taking care of kids. Learning Japanese. It’s probably why I’m writing this at 3:17AM on a Saturday morning! Knowing your ikigai might require a lot of introspection and search. Now, let’s break it down:

• 生き – Iki – Meaning: living or being alive
• 甲斐 – kai (though it’s changed to gai) – meaning: worth or use

What’s your “ikigai?” Leave a comment.

15. 一期一会 Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur

• Pronunciation:
  • ichi-go ichi-e

This is actually a Japanese proverb; a Zen Buddhist one.

Literally, it means – one time, one meeting. Usually, it’s translated as “one chance in a lifetime.” But the BEST translation is: Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur. So, that meeting you had with a friend or someone… that EXACT moment and everything that happened will never, ever happen again in this life. It was one of a kind and hence it’s worth treasuring.

Next on the list of beautiful Japanese words…

16. 恋の予感 Premonition of Love

• Pronunciation:
  • Koi no Yokan

This is sort of like love at first sight but not really. There’s more. It’s not a sappy, head-over-heels, heart-pounding, butterflies-in-stomach “love.” It’s a sense you get when first meeting a person – that it’s INEVITABLE that you are going to be in love in the future. Even if you feel no love right now.

• 恋 – koi – love
• 予感 – yokan – premonition

17. 侘寂 Beauty in imperfection; the accepting of life and death

• wabisabi

Wabisabi describes a way of looking at the world. It’s about accepting the transcience and imperfection of things. And thus, for the time we have left, seeing beauty in the things around us. For example, take a rough, cracked, asymmetrical, simple piece of pottery – seeing beauty in that is wabisabi.

This would be a hard concept to accept for people that like new, shiny and perfect things.

18. 川明かり Glow of a river in darkness

• Pronunciation:
  • kawaakari

It can be the reflection of the moonlight on the river. Or, it can be the gleam of light on the river during dusk. Here, 川/kawa means river and 明かり/akari means light.

19. 行逢りば 兄弟 Once we meet, we become brother/sister

• Pronunciation:
  • Ichariba chode

This is the spirit of hospitality and friendliness to strangers.

And more importantly, you go from strangers to brothers or sisters. That kind of hospitality!

20. 金継ぎ Repair with Gold

• Pronunciation:
  • Kintsugi

Also known as kintsukuroi. This is the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver and making something broken beautiful – usually pottery. This is an example of wabisabi where something imperfect is still beautiful!

So with kintsugi, the big point is… you can take something imperfect or broken, and make it EVEN more beautiful than ever.

21. 鏡花水月 Flower in the mirror; moon on water

• Pronunciation:
  • Kyouka suigetsu

Both, a flower in the mirror and a moon’s reflection on water can’t be touched. So this Japanese phrase refers to something that’s visible but can’t be touched. Something you can feel (for example, beauty or an emotion) but can’t describe in words.

22. 高嶺の花 Flower on a high peak

• Pronunciation:
  • Takane no hana

Literally, this means 高嶺/high peak and 花/flower. What it TRULY means is a “goal that’s unattainable.” Something beyond your reach, like a flower!

23. 風物詩 Things which remind of a season

• Pronunciation:
  • Fuubutsushi

So, anything – feelings, scents, images – that bring memories, thoughts or anticipation of a particular season. Kind of like when you smell that crisp/burning-like scent in the air, long before snow starts falling, and you know winter is coming. The Japanese love their seasons so there are different foods, different fruit (that are grown) products and decorations for different seasons.

24. 積ん読 Buying/Piling Up Books without Reading

• Pronunciation:
  • Tsundoku

You know how you add too many shows and movies to your Netflix queue without watching? Or buy too many vegetables that you never eat? The Japanese have a word for this, except with books. Any book lover knows this. They have books they want to read. They want some other books. And with the overwhelm, they don’t get around to any and let them pile up.

Tsundoku is a combination of the verb 積む (tsumu – to pile up), and 読 (doku – reading.)

This is one of the beautiful Japanese words that I can relate with.

25. 居留守 Pretending You’re Not Home

• Pronunciation:
  • irusu

This word is used to describe you when you flake out on the person at your doorstep. They ring the doorbell. *Ding-dong.* And you, suddenly grow very, very quiet, turn off the lights and hope they go away.

This word is a noun and literally means “pretending to be out.”

26. 懐かしい Nostalgia/Nostalgic

• Pronunciation:
  • Natsukashii

Literally, this word means “nostalgic” and is an adjective. But, this carries a lot more meaning and emotion to the Japanese. People don’t normally blurt out “oh, how nostalgic” in English, because no-one likes nostalgia. It’s seen as negative. For the Japanese, it’s something that brings back memories and warms the heart.

27. 食い倒れ Eating Yourself Into Bankruptcy

• Pronunciation:
  • Kuidaore

Let’s break the phrase apart. Kui (食い) means to eat and 倒れ (daore) is a bad debt or collapse. It also comes from the verb  倒れる (daoreru) which means to go bankrupt. How is the word used? It applies to foodies and people that love going out to eat.

28. しょうがない It can’t be helped

• Pronunciation:
  • Shoganai

This is a very common and a very Japanese expression. When is it used? People use it as “I can’t do anything about it. I give up.” So, it’s used when things are out of your control (and sometimes when you just don’t want to try hard.)

As much as is this an interesting Japanese phrase, it’s also disliked by others due to the overall “I won’t even try” spirit it carries.

29. 無礼講 Putting everything aside to be yourself

• Pronunciation:
  • Bureikou

Interestingly, this word sounds like “break.” And indeed, it is a break. This word represents a situation where you can speak freely, act freely and most importantly, enjoy yourself without worrying about your social status, relation to others, pressure or authority.

This happens at Japanese company drink-outings where the workers and their bosses get drunk and honest with each other.

30. ありがた迷惑 An unwelcome favor

• Pronunciation:
  • Arigata meiwaku

Politeness and maintaining harmony is important in Japan. So, when someone does something nice. for someone else… Japanese people are compelled to return the favor. Even if they didn’t ask for the nice thing. This phrase captures that mix of needing to repay the favor as well as the annoyance of having to do it.

31. 渋い Old School Cool

• Pronunciation:
  • Shibui

This is a cool Japanese word to know. And by old school cool, we mean old school cool like Frank Sinatra, Al Capone, old-time cars/cameras and so on. However, this can also have a negative connotation; “stuff only old people like.”

32. 微妙 “Delicate, subtle, fine or …Eh”

• Pronunciation:
  • bimyou

Bimyou is quite a versatile word. And despite it being one of the chosen beautiful Japanese words, you also should learn it. It’s used in daily life. There are many uses. It can be used to talk about “subtlety” like a subtle change or “eh” if you want to comment on something’s quality. In other words, it’s “eh” or not so good.

Given this word’s vagueness, it’s also used as a way to say no or be vague about things. “Hey girl, Can I see you tomorrow?” “Well, it’s a bimyou…”

33. 引き籠り Modern Day Hermit

• Pronunciation:
  • Hikikomori

This is a word used to describe someone that’s a recluse and stays in. Beautiful Japanese words aside, it’s quite an issue in Japan. This word refers to adults or adolescents who have willingly pulled out of social life, interaction and live in extreme isolation. No friends. No contacts. The Japanese Ministry of Health designates this word for anyone that hasn’t left their home in over 6 months.

34. わすれもの Forgotten thing

• Pronunciation:
  • Wasuremono

Let’s break this word in half. “Wasure” means “forget” and “mono” means thing. So, it literally represents items that are forgotten and list

35. 真面目 Hardworking

• Pronunciation:
  • Majime

Anywhere else, if you call someone diligent, hardworking and dedicated to a goal, there’s a negative flipside to it. They’re seen as party poopers that won’t have any fun. In Japan, “Majime” carries positive meaning.

36. よいしょ! Let’s do this!

• Pronunciation:
  • Yoisho!

I wouldn’t call this a beautiful word…

This word is more of a “kakegoe” or saying of encouragement to yourself or others. In fact, it’s like an interjection than anything. Kind of like.. “Alright…” “Well…” “Let’s do this” and such… depending on the context.

Kind of sounds like “yoshhh.”

Why’s it on the list? Well, it’s kind of not immediately translatable and needs explanation.

You’ll often hear Japanese people say it to themselves before they start work. You will also hear it when people plop down into a chair or couch after coming home from work. Mostly, it’s said before or just as something is about to be done — before you lift something heavy or as you sit down after a long day. It varies.

37. バックシャン A woman who is beautiful from behind

• Bakkushan

This is one of the most interesting “beautiful Japanese words” here. It’s a combination of 2 words. First, the English word “back.” Second, the German word, “schön,” which means beautiful. So, beautiful from the back.

38. おもてなし Japanese Hospitality

• Pronunciation:
  • Omotenashi

This word goes above just hospitality. It carries a sense of selflessness obligation to the customer without expecting anything in return. You can see examples of this when store staff bow to you upon entry. Or, when restaurant staff cheerfully yell “welcome.” It’s even as subtle as a toothpick automatically provided inside your pair of chopsticks. Careful thoughtfulness, eh?

39. 蛇足 Useless as snake legs

• Pronunciation:
  • dasoku

So, the word means useless. Where do the snake and legs come from? The first character, 蛇, represents snake and the second one, 足, is legs. When you want to say something is useless or redundant, use this.

40. 口寂しい Longing to have something in your mouth

• Pronunciation:
  • kuchisabishii

Literally, this means “mouth lonely.” And this is in regards to food. So, this is when you eat when you’re not hungry but because you have nothing better to do.

41. 辻斬り Killing a passerby to test a new sword

• Pronunciation:
  • Tsujikiri

If you’re thinking that this has to be a samurai sword word, you’re right. When one buys a new car, they take it for a drive. Bed? They take it for a nap. And a sword? Well, you do what swords are designed to do. If you were a samurai back in the day, where else would you find another person? While passing them by on the street!

So, tsuji means street or crossroad and the second part, kiri, is to slice or kill.

Definitely one of the more “fun” beautiful Japanese words here.

42. 紅葉 Leaves changing color

• Pronunciation:
  • kouyou

The first character means “crimson” or “red” and the second one means “leaves.” But, in general, this term is known as the changing of colors of leaves in Autumn. In Japan, this is a pretty big deal as well, akin to admiring the cherry blossoms in the Spring.

43. いただきます I humbly receive (food)

• Pronunciation:
  • Itadakimasu

I mean, who doesn’t want to receive food? The Japanese say “itadakimasu” before they eat. This is what’s known as a Japanese set phrase — a phrase used with certain occasions… like eating!  But, as with all beautiful Japanese words, this one has more nuance to it. It also includes thanks and gratefulness to everyone who was responsible in making the food. Farmers growing the veggies. Those that have delivered it to the city. And your cook as well.

This word also goes back to the Buddhist concept of being respectful to all things.

You’ll normally see this translated as “bon appetit” but translations won’t get the meaning and feeling right.

Here’s another one of my favorite beautiful Japanese words.

44. おじゃまします I will disturb you in your home

• Pronunciation:
  • Ojamashimasu

Jama means disturbance. Shimasu means to do. It just means “I will bother you.” However, you use this when you enter someone’s home. It’s a sign of respect for the person you are visiting and their home.

45.  お疲れ様です “it’s been tough and you must be tired”

• Pronunciation:
  • Otsukaresama desu

This is another Japanese set phrase.

Like the 2 words above, this one also is a native Japanese saying and cannot be translated with one or two words alone. Otsukare is often used at the end of the day to others, like coworkers, team players or students where both of you literally worked hard.

It’s a parting greeting but is also used to acknowledge that “you have worked hard.”

46. もったいない “What a waste…”

• Pronunciation:
  • Mottainai

While this first and foremost is used to express regret over waste – like food, there are other uses too. You can use it to say that there’s too much of something, and thus it’s a waste. Or, you can use it to say you are “mottainai” in the event that someone is too good for you.

Actually, this is a common way to say “it’s not you, ‘it’s me” as a way to reject someone in Japanese.

47. 猫舌 Having a cat’s tongue & a dislike for hot food & drink

• Pronunciation:
  • nekojita

The real meaning of this word is just a “dislike for super hot foods and drinks.” But, for some reason, it’s made of 2 characters. The first one means cat. The second is tongue. While we have no proof that cats hate hot/warm food, that’s the way the phrase goes. So, if you can’t handle that, you’re said to have a cat’s tongue.

48. 落葉 Fallen Leaves

• Pronunciation:
  • Rakuyou

This is another fall-themed word. Why is it on my list of beautiful Japanese words? Well, in English, it takes 2 words to express it. In Japanese, it’s just one. And because it’s one, it carries a stronger image of autumn, fallen leaves and the atmosphere.

49. 月見 Cherry Blossom Viewing

• Pronunciation:
  • Hanami

Hanami is literally translated as “flower viewing.” But, it  is mostly used for going to see the Cherry Blossoms (also known as Sakura). This is a Japanese tradition where many Japanese head out to see the Sakura in their full bloom.

50. 月見 Viewing the moon

• Pronunciation:
  • Tsukimi

Just like there’s a “cherry blossom viewing,” there’s also a moon viewing. When does this happen? Usually in September or October when there’s a full moon.

51. 雪見 Snow viewing

• Pronunciation:
  • Yukimi

You heard of cherry blossom viewing. You heard of moon viewing.

Well, then there is “Yukimi” which means snow viewing… and watching the snow come down. For the Japanese, this is preferably done while in a warm onsen bath/hot spring resort with a view.

52. 紅葉 Japanese crimson maple leaves

• Pronunciation:
  • Momiji

Pick apart the characters and this just means “crimson” and “leaves.” However, say this word out loud. Momiji. It’s nice sounding word and hence made it on the list!

53. 猫かぶり Wolf in sheep’s clothing

• Pronunciation:
  • Nekokaburi

This means “feigned innocence or naïveté.” In other words, the person is pretending to be dumb and innocent, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. However, the Japanese word here is totally different. If you pick apart the words, it means “to put on a cat.” Why cat? Well, know how cats decide to whack items off tables and look at you like they’ve done nothing wrong?

That’s where it comes from.

54. ボケット Gazing vacantly into the distance, without thinking.

• Pronunciation:
  • boketto

This word comes from ぼけとする/boketosuru – to daydream. Boke, interestingly enough, also means fool. But, don’t let that tarnish this word. It’s nice not to think sometimes. Some things are not worth thinking too much about!

55. じがばち Red-banded sand wasp

• Pronunciation:
  • jigabachi

You’re wondering – how in the WORLD did a wasp land on the list of beautiful Japanese words?

Well, this article is sweet like honey and it just buzzed over here.

I know, I know. No deep profound meaning. No sexy message that will send shivers down your spine. Okay, fine. But, say it with me… out loud… jiga-bachi. I think it’s a pretty nice sounding word. It feels powerful! JIGA. BACHI. Okay, it’s  a personal favorite, so I stuck it last.

Done!

Now you now the top 55 beautiful Japanese words.

Yes, you’re right – there are TONS more. But this is a quick, easy lesson for Beginners that want to start slowly.

So… here’s my question to you:

Do you have any favorite beautiful Japanese words? Any phrases that I missed or that you want me to add to the list?

Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them.

Want to learn even more words and learn Japanese? Check out my other posts:

• Japanese MP3 Lessons & Audio
• Japanese PDF Lessons
• How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese
• Or, stop reading articles and check my recommended Japanese learning program below.

– written by the Main Junkie

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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!’

Related posts:

• 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!

Want to learn more awesome Japanese words? Grab a free trial of our recommended course.

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

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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.»