Eunoia

Words That Don't Translate

Eunoia was built in 24h by Steph. Search 700+ untranslatable words by 80+ languages and 60+ tags, or click refresh to see a new batch. Enjoy!


Word Definition Language Tags Audio
Ikigai A reason for being; the thing that gets you up in the morning. Japanese growth happiness
Nekojita (ねこじた) Literally "cat's tongue"; a person who is sensitive to hot food and especially hot drinks Japanese food attribute
Boketto (ぼけっと) gazing vacantly into the distance (without thought or sense of self). Japanese
Utura-utura (うつらうつら) To drift between sleep and wakefulness. Japanese event time phsyical
Yoisho A word without meaning, said when flopping into a chair after a hard day at work or lifting a heavy bag. Japanese event physical work
Poka-Yoke Any mechanism in any process that helps an equipment operator avoid (yokeru) mistakes (poka) Japanese work process
Gemba The real place'; in business it refers to the real place where value is created, such as the factory floor. Instead of depending on hierarchy, the people who are closest to what's happening make decisions. Ie: the more hands-on knowledge a decision-maker has, the better their decision will be. Japanese work cultural
Majime (真面目) Reliable, responsible, diligent; seriousness, formality. Japanese society attribute
Wasuremono Forgotten or lost things; an item left behind on a train or forgotten at home. Japanese adverse habits
Komorebi (木漏れ日) Lit. wood is ‘leaking’ sunlight; dappled sunlight filtering through leaves. Japanese nature beauty
Kenjataimu "wise man's time": The post-orgasmic period when a man's thoughts are no longer impaired by his sexual drive; he is thus likened to a "sage" of clear mind Japanese awareness
Fuubutsushi The things – feelings, scents, images – that evoke memories or anticipation for a particular season. Japanese time
Seijaku (静寂) Quiet (sei) tranquillity (jaku); silence, calm, serenity (especially in the midst of activity or chaos). Japanese awareness beauty
Tokimeku A sudden flutter in your heart, or that feeling of inspiration if you’re anticipating something Japanese feeling exciting
kaizen Continuous growth Japanese growth
Shuhari A Japanese martial art concept which describes the stages of learning to mastery. Roughly is translated to "to keep, to fall, to break away". To first learn the fundamentals (shu), then to break away from traditions (ha), then finally to transcend to where there are no techniques (ri). To "beomce one with the spirit alone". Japanese growth
Age-otori The bad feeling one gets after a terrible haircut Japanese adverse event feeling
Nito-onna A woman so dedicated to her career that she has no time to iron blouses, so dresses only in knitted tops. Japanese society work
Tokimeki ときめき Excitement; Feeling of bliss or joy from a discrete experience Japanese emotion feeling happiness
Mono no aware The bittersweetness of a brief and grading moment of transcendent beauty. Japanese beauty
Hatsuyume The first dream one has in the new year; thought to be an omen Japanese feeling
Pekopeko Bowing one's head repeatedly in a grovelling manner Japanese physical action
Zanshin (残心) Lit. ‘remaining/enduring heart-mind’; a state of relaxed mental alertness (especially in the face of danger or stress). Japanese awareness
Yugen A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe…and the sad beauty of human suffering. Japanese beauty awareness philosophy
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu Favorably, please. Japanese positive




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