How to Write Courage in Japanese Early Japanese Art

'Say what?' 20 Cool Words that Only Exist in Japanese

'Say what?' 20 Cool Words that Only Exist in Japanese

Date published: fifteen Oct 2020
Last updated: 17 February 2021

At that place are loads of funny, colorful, and cool Japanese words that just don't take a straight translation into English language.

Japan has a long and rich history, and its famously complex language reflects that. The linguistic communication of a country tin give you perspective on and insight into the culture and attitudes of the people that utilise it.

Naturally, at that place are a plethora of words in Japanese that simply don't accept a ane-to-one English equivalent. They range all the way from the hilarious to the poetic to the spiritual.

These cool Japanese words are all certain to put a grinning on your face, and near if not all will have yous wondering, "why don't nosotros accept a word for that in English!?"

i. KY (adj.)

1. KY (adj.)

The English letters 'KY' are used as a autograph for the Japanese phrase "kūki yomenai", meaning "can't read the room," or more literally, "can't read the air." You tin say a person is KY if they are socially awkward or inappropriate.

Japan has a very loftier context culture, which ways that a lot of social interactions involve suggesting things indirectly, inferring unsaid meaning, and non speaking frankly or saying things outright.

If this is at odds with your own cultural background, you might detect Japanese conversation a little challenging to navigate at first! In the meantime, you lot may, unfortunately, be a little on the KY side as far as natives are concerned.

two. 木漏れ日 Komorebi (n.)

2. 木漏れ日 Komorebi (n.)

This cute word refers to the light that filters through the trees, dappling the forest floor. Information technology's a poetic word that evokes imagery of a peaceful, natural scene. Next time you're out for a stroll in the wood, accept a moment to capeesh the gently shifting komorebi and marvel at the fact that there'southward no discussion for information technology in English!

three. わびさび Wabi-sabi (n.)

3. わびさび Wabi-sabi (n.)

Wabi-sabi is the very Japanese style of fine art and aesthetics emphasizing simplicity and restraint. It is an appreciation of the beauty of imperfections and impermanence. Things and fine art that fall into this category are generally very simple simply inspire a feeling of calm. Wabi-sabi brings to mind things similar apprehensive shrines and roughly made pottery.

4. 別腹 Betsu bara (n.)

4. 別腹 Betsu bara (n.)

Anyone with a sweet tooth can relate to the mystery of the betsu bara, or "separate tummy." This handy noun refers to the mysterious extra room you find you have for dessert afterwards a large repast.

While the scientific discipline behind said phenomenon is actually known, this agreeable word is perfect for explaining sheepishly why no, you're not done eating thanks very much, and yous don't care for the judgment. (OK, maybe 'dessert tummy' is somewhat similar, but now yous know Nihon has a give-and-take for information technology besides!)

v. 森林浴 Shinrinyoku (n.)

5. 森林浴 Shinrinyoku (n.)

Literally "forest bathing," shinrinyoku is the act of going into a wood to unwind and exhale in the fresh air. The refreshing feeling of spending time in nature and away from civilization is widely known to be good for your mental health, and then how is information technology that we don't have a word like this in English? If you haven't however, definitely try some shinrinyoku therapy; it is gratis, after all.

6. 積ん読 Tsundoku (n.)

6. 積ん読 Tsundoku (n.)

Tsundoku is made up of the words "tsun," here meaning "pile up," and "doku," pregnant "to read." Book lovers are probably all guilty of this ane, every bit it refers to the human activity of buying lots of books and non reading them, leading to a pile of unread books.

If you've just realized that you lot've got a bit of a tsundoku habit, let this be a sign that you should crack open a volume or two!

7. シブい Shibui (adj.)

7. シブい Shibui (adj.)

This super-specific adjective is used to describe something or someone that has aged gracefully and gotten cooler with historic period. The closest English equivalent might be to say they've "aged like a fine wine."

Young people nowadays simply love old, weathered things similar exposed brick or ripped jeans. Equally an appreciation of all things shibui gets more widespread, the need for a word to describe it could potentially follow!

viii. 過労死 Karōshi (northward.)

8. 過労死 Karōshi (n.)

This dark discussion is somewhat well known in the English language-speaking world these days, but is worth mentioning to understand some of the pressure that has arisen in some corners of the working earth.

Divers as "death from working too much/overwork," karōshi doesn't merely mean dying of stress-induced natural causes; it includes everything from keeling over at your desk because you've had a eye assail to even as far as taking your own life because your chore is too stressful.

A tragic karōshi incident in 2015 got a lot of companies reevaluating the amount of pressure being put on employees. Hopefully, things will improve soon, and 1 day this give-and-take won't still exist around.

9. 紅葉 Kōyō (n.)

9. 紅葉 Kōyō (n.)

Possibly best translated as "fall foliage," this succinct word describes the brilliant colors of the leaves in autumn. While not incommunicable to translate or at to the lowest degree describe, the autumn leaves are definitely a bigger deal in Japan than in most other places every bit the rich crimson foliage here is only so beautiful. Every year people travel far and broad to see the most gorgeous leaves from the best vantage points.

10. 口寂しい Kuchisabishī (n. + adj.)

10. 口寂しい Kuchisabishī (n. + adj.)

This mannerly phrase means that your "oral fissure is solitary," and describes eating out of colorlessness rather than hunger. We've all had an unwarranted treat when there's been nil else to do, but for some reason just didn't have quite the right word to describe this absentminded munching until today! Maybe giving this bad habit a name will make information technology easier to stop...

11. 猫舌 Nekojita (n.)

11. 猫舌 Nekojita (n.)

Japanese people really like their food and drinks to be pipage hot, as in hot plenty to cause moderate damage. Those lesser mortals who accept to accident on their lava-like nutrient before eating it are said to have a "nekojita," or a "cat tongue." This somewhat surreal word is said to accept originated in the Edo period and is based on the fact that cats (allegedly) don't like to eat hot nutrient.

12. 飲ミュニケーション Nomunication (n.) and たばこミュニケーション Tabaccomunication (n.)

12. 飲ミュニケーション Nomunication (n.) and たばこミュニケーション Tabaccomunication (n.)

These words are both portmanteaus. Nomunication comes from the Japanese word "nomu" (drink) and the English give-and-take "advice", and refers to "communication while drinking" (specifically alcohol). Tabaccomunication comes from the words "tobacco" and "advice," and unsurprisingly means "communication while smoking."

These tin can both be seen equally pretty important in a lot of jobs in Japan. They generally refer to things like talking business organisation over drinks with colleagues after work or having a chat while on a smoke suspension. While these can sometimes exist effective networking skills in Japan, they certainly aren't recommended for wellness reasons, and information technology seems younger generations are starting to devious away.

thirteen. 三日坊主 Mikka Bōzu (due north.)

13. 三日坊主 Mikka Bōzu (n.)

This means "3-solar day monk," and refers to someone who gives upwards or gave up on something very apace. It can too accept the nuance of initially starting with much passion and intensity, only to and then falter very fast. Buddhist monks have quite a strict routine of extremely early mornings, cleaning, and tough training, so throughout history, quite a few people accept understandably thrown in the towel early on.

fourteen. ありがた迷惑 Arigatameiwaku (n.)

14. ありがた迷惑 Arigatameiwaku (n.)

Arigatameiwaku is a combination of the words "arigatai" and "meiwaku," which mean "grateful" and "nuisance" respectively. This is used to describe a very specific state of affairs in which a person goes out of their style to do something for you that you didn't want them to exercise in the first identify. This "favor" ends up causing problems for you, but social norms force you to testify gratitude anyway.

Most people have probably met someone who was insistent on existence "helpful" fifty-fifty when nobody wanted them to be. For example, a calculator illiterate however confident family fellow member who tries to do things for you on your laptop that y'all definitely could take done faster. These are the sorts of people that cause a lot of arigatameiwaku, oblivious to the truthful feelings of everyone forced to dust their teeth and hiss thanks at them.

15. 生きがい Ikigai (n.)

15. 生きがい Ikigai (n.)

A combination of "ikiru," meaning "to alive," and "gai," significant "reason," your ikigai is, therefore, your reason for living or purpose in life. Your ikigai could exist a hobby you're passionate about, a special person or pet in your life, or some earth-changing activism. Whatsoever it is, information technology gets you out of bed and lights a burn nether you, and so make time for your ikigai every bit much as possible!

If you've realized while reading that y'all might be a bit of a mikka bōzu, maybe you lot just haven't found your ikigai yet!

16. 木枯らし Kogarashi (north.)

16. 木枯らし Kogarashi (n.)

This is the first common cold wind yous experience in autumn that lets you know winter is fast approaching. It means "leaf-shaking wind," and information technology might have you shaking too! Depending on your feelings about winter, the coming of kogarashi is either heady or foreboding. Nicely reflecting a lot of Japanese culture, this word is both poetic and applied.

Every language has its own quirks that make them interesting and unique, and Japanese is no exception. With a bully array of humorous and descriptive words for everyday life, as well equally for highly specific situations, learning Japanese is a fun and rewarding way of learning about a people and culture with a fascinating history and present.

Take this as both a language and a culture lesson in one; when you lot come to Japan, you know now why it's important not to be KY or a kucharā! And if you go for some rejuvenating shinrinyoku while you lot're here, make sure to relish the komorebi and kōyō that yous might not take appreciated equally much before they were pointed out to you.

17. ばたんきゅう Batan-kyū

17. ばたんきゅう Batan-kyū

Batan-kyū has fallen somewhat out of utilise, but is an onomatopoeia that is mostly written in coincidental situations rather than spoken, and is used to depict that feeling when you are so tired you flop into bed and fall direct to sleep.

"Batan" denotes the "flop", where y'all fall onto bed, and "kyū" describes the stillness that follows, when you autumn directly to sleep. Think about the last time you lot came dwelling house from piece of work and without even having dinner you cruel straight into bed... And then the next thing yous knew it was morn!

Our concluding 3 words have generally fallen out of utilise, but are pretty interesting insights into what was popular at the time.

18. 物の哀れ Mono no Aware (northward.)

18. 物の哀れ Mono no Aware (n.)

Mono no enlightened is very similar to wabi-sabi, but is an older word that is non used equally much at present. Information technology refers to appreciating the bittersweet impermanence of something'southward fleeting dazzler since nothing lasts forever. It's very in line with the Buddhist thought of being in the moment and letting things go, although information technology besides suggests a sort of wistfulness.

While both of these words are on the more old-fashioned side, the untranslated phrase mono no aware appears in 1 of Marie Kondo's books, so perhaps it's time for a comeback?

xix. キープ君 Keep-kun (north.)

19. キープ君  Keep-kun (n.)

This one might seem a footling harsh, but a Keep-kun is a placeholder boyfriend who is only kept effectually until someone better shows upwards. The unfortunate label comprises the English language word "keep," and the Japanese honorific "kun," which is a suffix added to men's names to show affection or closeness.

Take heart in the fact that this word is by and large only used by older generations and has mostly fallen out of popular use. Hopefully, that ways in that location are fewer poor souls existence used as Keep-kuns!

twenty. クチャラー Kucharā (northward.)

20. クチャラー Kucharā (n.)

The word kucharā is a little dated, but it refers to a person who chews with their mouth open up.

Japanese is absolutely chockablock with onomatopoeias, and the one for the sound fabricated past chewing with your mouth open is kucha-kucha. Add together that to the English suffix -er, every bit in "player" or "worker," and yous've got a perfect succinct word for noisy eaters.

While eating with your mouth open is acceptable in some cultures, in Japan it is considered quite rude. Slurping your noodles, on the other mitt, is A-okay! And then slurp away and then close your rima oris to chew. Table manners vary a lot from country to land, so make certain to read up on eating dos and don'ts before jumping on a plane to Nippon!

Written by:

Katie Clayton

Having lived in Jamaica and the UK, Katie now finds herself most at home in Nippon. She'due south an English teacher and a translator with a passion for fashion, and she'south a pro at hunting down beautiful locally made products and thrifted gems. Two of her favorite pastimes include eating and relaxing at onsen – though preferably not at the same time!

*This information is from the time of this article'due south publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to modify.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include taxation.

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Source: https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_suburbs/article-a0004478/

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