When you study Japanese, you notice that certain words in Japanese have no equivalents in other languages. As you study Japanese, you will notice that certain words in Japanese do not have equivalents (or meanings) in other languages. Here are six of those expressions.
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2)
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4) もったいない / Mottainai
5) お
6)
１．“Ikigai” means a reason for living and purpose in life. However, there is no exact translation [to English] of this Japanese concept.
The nuance of “Ikigai” is unique to the Japanese language and other languages cannot fully appreciate its meaning.
１．生 きがいとは、生 きていく甲斐 がある。
”生 きててよかった””この世 に生 まれてこの人生 を いきてこられてよかった”と思 うことです。
英語 に訳 してみると “a reason for living and a purpose in life”と近 い意味 であるが少 しニュアンス に違 いがあります。生 きがいは日本独特 な表現 です。
２．“Natsukasii” means a combination of fun, sad, and tough when recollecting an old memory. If translated into English, the closest words would be: “nostalgic” and” sentimental’’.
However, there is no exact translation of this word to have the same meaning (and nuance) as the Japanese word itself.
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２．“Natsukasii” means a combination of fun, sad, and tough when recollecting an old memory. If translated into English, the closest words would be: “nostalgic” and” sentimental’’.
However, there is no exact translation of this word to have the same meaning (and nuance) as the Japanese word itself.
２．懐 かしいとは、昔 の楽 しい、苦 い、切 ない思 い出 がよみがえってくるという意味 です。
英語 で訳 すとしたら“nostalgic”” sentimental”が一番近 いでしょう。
しかし、表現 によっては微妙 にニュアンス の違 いがあり一言 で全部 まとめて言 える表現 は英語 では存在 しない日本独特 の表現 です。
しかし、
３．“Senpai” means your age, status, experience & education are superior to others. “Kouhai” means the opposite of senpai. Basically, it’s translated to ‘’lower than me.’’
This is a very important concept in Japanese culture. Other countries sometimes have similar social statuses or hierarchy however not to the same extent when compared to Japan.
That’s why there is no exact translation in English and it can sometimes be hard to explain the true meaning.
３．先輩 とは年齢 ・地位 ・経験 や学問 などが自分 より上 の人 。後輩 とはその逆 で自分 より下 の人 。
４．“Mottainai” has multiple meanings: One meaning is waste, for example wasting food or water.
Another meaning is: you don’t know what you are missing. For example: you have a good opportunity, but you don’t realize it.
Yet another meaning is something is too good for something else. For example: wearing a suit (which is too good) while gardening or working at a construction site. The meanings are slightly different, and you can use this word differently depending on the situation.
Another meaning is: you don’t know what you are missing. For example: you have a good opportunity, but you don’t realize it.
Yet another meaning is something is too good for something else. For example: wearing a suit (which is too good) while gardening or working at a construction site. The meanings are slightly different, and you can use this word differently depending on the situation.
４．「もったいない」は単 に「無駄 にしてはいけない」と言 う意味 だけではなく、粗末 に扱 って惜 しいと言 う感情 も含 まれた一 つの言葉 でたくさんの意味 が含 まれている日本語独特 な表現 です。
５．"Otsukaresamadesu" means to appreciate someone enduring hardship. This word is used when somebody has to go home earlier than you at the office. So this would be said instead of ‘see you’ or ‘bye’, etc.
In English, the expression is close to “good job”. However, this is when you praise somebody for a job well done. Otsukaresama is more appreciative for hardship, which is bit different.
５．「お疲 れ様 です」とは、相手 の苦労 を ねぎらう意 で用 いる言葉 。仕事場 などで先 に帰 る人 への挨拶 に使 われたりしますが、英語 にはこの フレーズ がありません。少 し似 ているのが ”good job" "good bye" "Thanks for your hard work" という表現 。
しかし、これは”良 い仕事 ”を ほめる言葉 で苦労 を ねぎらう意 で使 われている”お疲 れ様 ”とは少 し違 う表現 です。
しかし、これは”
６．"Setsunai" means that when you are sad, lonely, or have an absence...this makes the heart grow fonder. It feels like your heart is becoming tighter.
If you check the translation in an English dictionary, it is translated to ‘painful’. However this is not the exact expression or intended meaning when this word is used in Japanese.
６．切 ないとは寂 しさ ・悲 しさ ・恋 しさなどで胸 が締 め付 けられる気持 ちです。
辞書 で調 べてみると“feel painful”と表現 されているが、少 ししっくりこない表現 です。ですから外国人 に ニュアンス を掴 んでもらって教 えるしか方法 はありません。
