It is no surprise that Japanese is a language containing a lexicon of words with deep, profound meanings.
So much so, that we may find we don’t even have the words to express such ideas quite the same in English!
Many Japanese words are written in kanji characters. Kanji are logographic characters which originally come from Chinese writings.
Rather than each ‘letter’ representing a sound (like the English alphabet), each represents a meaning. Therefore, you can really do a deep dive into interpreting Japanese words with deep meanings!
Some of the meaningful Japanese words and phrases on the list have come from ancient Japan. Their meanings may have changed over the years, but the fact that they are still used today is proof of their significance!
Meaningful Japanese Words
Yuuigi
有意義
Meaningful
The first meaningful word on our list is… ‘meaningful’! Quite a useful word to know when discussing a bunch of yuuiga na terms!
It is a na (な) adjective used to describe something as significant or valuable, ie yuuigi na kotoba (有意義な言葉 / ゆういぎなことば) = meaningful words.
Kiseki
奇跡
Miracle
Kiseki (奇跡 / きせき) is a noun that means ‘miracle’ or ‘wonder’.
To break down the kanji, 奇 means ‘unusual’, while 跡 means ‘sign’ or ‘trace’. It is used to describe a (positive) extraordinary happening.
You may recognize this word, as it is a popular term for names of songs, anime, manga etc.
Nintai
忍耐
Perseverance
Nintai (忍耐 / にんたい) means ‘perserverance’ or ‘patience’ in Japanese. When paired with the verb ‘to do’ –suru (する) it becomes a verb meaning ‘to endure’.
Nintai is a virtuous quality that is very sought after in Japanese culture! This ‘perseverance’ is seen as essential for succeeding in our goals.
Makoto
誠
Sincerity
You may recognise makoto (誠 / まこと) as a popular name in Japan! It is a unisex name although it is more commonly associated with males.
It is a name with deep and beautiful meaning behind it — ‘sincerity’ or ‘honesty’.
The term makoto can be expressed as a noun or as an adverb. If you say ‘he is sincere’ you would say: kare wa makoto ga aru (彼は誠がある / かれはまことがある) literally translated as ‘he has sincerity’.
On the other hand, it can be used as an adverb to say ‘I sincerely apologise’: Makotoni moushiwake arimasen (誠に申し訳ありません / まことにもうしわけありません).
Kansha
感謝
Gratitude
Kansha (感謝 / かんしゃ) means ‘gratitude’ in Japanese and is a very important concept for the Japanese people.
It holds a very deep sense of thankfulness along with humbleness, and is used to show utmost appreciation for even the smallest of gestures.
The word kansha comes from Buddhist philosophy and expresses the idea that always being grateful for life (be it good times or bad), will help us to be more at peace with ourselves.
It is clear from attitudes and language expressed in everyday japanese life that kansha is very valued. An example of this is the use of special phrases itadakimasu and gochisousama deshita before and after eating every meal!
Check out one of our previous posts to see just how many ways there are to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese!
Ukiyo
浮世
Fleeting life
You may have heard of ukiyo e (浮世絵 / うきよえ), a genre of Japanese woodblock print developed in the Edo period (1603-1868). The most famous artwork of the time arguably being ‘The Great Wave’ by artist Hokusai.
The word ukiyo actually stems from Buddhist ideology and literally translates as ‘floating world’. However, it is a homonym!
This means that although two words may sound the same, they differ in spelling and therefore in meaning. If written as 憂世 it translates as ‘sorrowful world’.
This Buddhist belief of ukiyo represents the ever suffering cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.
During the Edo period, the term came into new meaning and was used to describe pleasure seeking lifestyles in urban cultures.
Omotenashi
お持て成し
Hospitality
Omotenashi (お持て成し, generally written おもてなし) is the Japanese term for ‘hospitality’. However, it is a particularly deep and sincere form of hospitality, whereby one wholeheartedly looks after their guest without expecting anything in return.
The phrase omotenashi was really pushed in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Japanese people wanted to warmly welcome the world with open arms as many spectators were expected to visit Japan during this time.
Although many cultures can express hospitality, omotenashi is another level of politeness culture that you can only truly understand by experiencing it first hand in Japan!
Yasuragi
安らぎ
Peace of mind
Yasuragi (安らぎ / やすらぎ) is a noun meaning ‘peace of mind’ and expresses the inner peace we can find through mindfulness and being in touch with ourselves.
When you reach yasuragi, your heart is at ease and you have found harmony with yourself. I mean, who wouldn’t want that ?!
Yamatonadeshiko
大和撫子
Epitome of feminine beauty
Yamatonadeshiko (大和撫子 / やまとなでしこ) is an ancient Japanese proverb used to describe the ideal Japanese woman.
At the time, it would have referred to a woman with light skin, long dark hair and most probably dressed in an opulent kimono who is poised and virtuous.
The term comes from the word yamatodamashii (大和魂 / やまとだましい) which encapsulates the ‘spirit of Japan’, particularly the soul of old, traditional Japan.
Saishokukenbi
才色兼備
Intelligent and beautiful (woman)
Saishokukenbi (才色兼備 / さいしょくけんび) is yet another phrase used to describe a beautiful woman! The slight difference being that a saishokukenbi is not only physically beautiful, but also intelligent.
Tasogare
黄昏
Twilight
Tasogare (黄昏 / たそがれ) means ‘twilight’ in Japanese. Twilight is that time of darkness in the air which occurs either just before sunrise or just after sunset.
It holds other meanings depending on the context. It can of course relate to one’s ’twilight years’ in life, and can even be used to describe a ‘melancholic nostalgia’.
Tenshinranman
天真爛漫
Innocence
Tenshinranman (天真爛漫 / てんしんらんまん) is an adjective meaning ‘naive’ or ‘innocent’. Think of a young child running around in a field with a smile on their face and without a care in the world!
Tenshintanman is a Japanese word with deep meaning that represents the kind of pure simplicity that is one of the true beauties of life!
Meaningful Japanese Phrases
Fugenjikkou
不言実行
Actions speak louder than words
Fugenjikkou (不言実行 / ふげんじっこう) is the Japanese way of saying ‘actions speak louder than words’.
Fugen means ‘silence’ while jikkou means ‘to carry out’ or ‘implement’ so literally translated it sounds like ‘silent action’.
Fuubutsushi
風物詩
Characteristic of a particular season
Though the phenomenon of fuubutsushi (風物詩 / ふうぶつし) is not unfamiliar to an English speaker, we don’t really have a word that encapsulates the feeling.
Literally speaking, the kanji would translate to mean ‘a poet’s reminder of a season’. It describes something which is a characteristic of one of the Japanese four seasons.
It is that sort of nostalgic feeling you get when something reminds you of a certain time of year. For example, the smell of pine may remind you of winter, while the taste of pumpkin pie may remind you of autumn!
Amefutte jikaamaru
雨降って地固まる
After the rain, earth hardens
Amefutte jikatamaru (雨降って地固まる / あめふってじかたまる) is a an extremely meaningful phrase, especially in Japan, where they have overcome great adversities in the past.
The first half of the phrase ame ga furu refers to ‘rainfall’ while ji katamaru means ‘the ground/earth hardens’. Therefore, it would translate as ‘after rain, the earth hardens’ and aims to send the message that adversity builds character.
It is similar in meaning to the expression ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ in English.
It is hard to have a positive outlook in the face of tragedy, but it is this endurance that keeps society going and makes communities stronger! Despite the hardships Japan has been through, they have been able to build themselves back up.
Sumeba miyako
住めば都
Home is where you make it
Sumeba miyako (住めば都 / すめばみやこ) is a proverb which pretty much claims: ‘you can live anywhere’!
Sumeba is the potential form of the verb sumu meaning ‘to live’. Miyako means ‘capital city’. Put together it forms the expression ‘if you live there, it’s now the capital city’.
This phrase can be a great encouragement for someone who is living away from home and may be feeling out of place. Just remember ‘home is where you make it’, and with this taken into consideration you may be able to feel more comfortable!
Ichigo ichie
一期一会
Once in a lifetime encounter
Ichigo ichie (一期一会 / いちごいちえ) is a well known deep Japanese proverb meaning ‘once in a lifetime encounter/meeting’ in Japanese.
It stresses the importance of making the most of every moment, as time is fleeting and we don’t get any do-overs.
We are living in fast times here in the digital age, so it’s vital for our mental health that we take the time to practice mindfulness, cherish every moment and live in it.
Kokoro kubari
心配り
Thoughtfulness
Kokoro kubari (心配り / こころくばり) is the act of ‘exerting care’ or in other words, being thoughtful!
Kokoro is the Japanese word for ‘heart’ and kubaru is a verb meaning ‘to distribute’ or ‘to hand out’. So when you are showing care or attention to someone, you are handing your heart to them! Cute right?
Kuuki wo yomu
空気を読む
Read the air
Kuuki wo yomu (空気を読む / くうきをよむ) is a super important phrase in Japanese! It literally translates as ‘read the air’, though it holds a similar meaning to ‘read the room’ in English.
It is a skill that is valued all over the world, but especially in a place like Japan, as it is not so common to be very out and open with one’s thoughts and feelings in Japanese culture.
It is therefore essential to be able to read between the lines and understand the vibe of the situation.
A good example of ‘reading the air’ is if you ask someone a question they may not want to answer, they would probably reply with sore wa chotto… (それはちょっと) and trail off without finishing the sentence. Translated into English would be something like ‘oh, that’s a bit…’ If you hear this, you should ‘read the room’ and understand that the person is uncomfortable to discuss that topic any further.
Kokorogeshou
心化粧
Make up for heart
Kokorogeshou (心化粧 / こころげしょう) is one of my favourite meaningful expressions in Japanese!
We already know that kokoro means ‘heart’. Keshou (pronounced as geshou in this compound word) is the Japanese word for ‘makeup’.
In the same way we may use makeup to make ourselves come across as physically more presentable, ‘heart makeup’ is when we make our personalities come across as more inviting and pleasant.
It’s quite hard to describe in English, but it’s not necessarily a fake front put up to pretend to be nice, but more like a striving to let your good side shine and show your best self.
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Hannah is a half Irish/half Japanese girl living in Ireland. Her love for Japan and the Japanese language led her to studying languages and translation in university where she specialised in Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. In her free time, Hannah enjoys using her sewing machine to upcycle clothes and create new pieces!