難しい日本語 (Muzukashii Nihongo) – Difficult Japanese

24th July – 文月

Learning 日本語 (Nihongo = Japanese) can be very difficult, as there are words that cannot be easily translated into 英語 (Eigo = English). Just like other languages, some words can be slightly different to the translated words in other languages, therefore those words are hard to use correctly for non-natives.

侘び寂び (Wabi sabi)

Especially in Japanese, 侘び寂び (Wabi sabi) is often mentioned as untranslatable word. This one word has very broad meaning in it. Here is my explanation of 侘び寂び:

侘び寂び is Japanese philosophical idea that has not defined but existed from old time. Briefly, it means simplicity, quiet, imperfect in a good way.

侘び: richness in one’s spirit that is not being pessimistic in a bad situation, and even enjoy the circumstances. Accepting unavoidable things as it is and see the beauty in it.

寂び: feeling aesthetic in the old, quiet, wither and imperfect things. Imperfection can increase creativity therefore do not seek for the perfection.

侘び is about inside, 寂び is about outside beauty.

侘び寂び is often used to explain the beauty of nature, thinking of old wither nature objects that long time has gone by, as beautiful. For instance, Autumn leaves, when the maple leaves fell down on the ground and are becoming brown, this is considered as 侘び寂び. Another example can be moss, moss takes long time to grow. Fresh green look with old and quiet appearance makes us feel 侘び寂び.

I hope now you kind of get what 侘び寂び means. It has very wide meaning inside the one word. In addition, following words also explains subtle human feeling in one word:

渋い (Shibui)

The actual meaning is the feeling when eating sour persimmon, your tongue gets numb. Derived from this, Shibui is recognized as the symbol of maturity, calm and not gaudy. (Sometimes used for dissatisfied face). Used for the things that are plain and sober, but it has deep and rich taste in it. The color gray and dark brown represent 渋い, so wearing clothes with those color, you have 渋いtaste!

切ない (Setsunai)

People might explain this word as ‘Sad’, however, it has wider meaning. It is the feeling of sadness and grief which tightening one’s chest. Painful, disconsolate and do not know what to do. You feel 切ない when you are rejected by the first love, or when you are left behind for the family trip to Hokkaido…

I hope you somewhat get what those difficult Japanese means and be able to use them in your real life!