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
Boketto (ぼけっと) gazing vacantly into the distance (without thought or sense of self). Japanese
Mono no aware The bittersweetness of a brief and grading moment of transcendent beauty. Japanese beauty
Shouganai It cannot be helped. Japanese philosophy fate
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
Tsundoku Acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them Japanese adverse
Mu (無) Not one, not zero, not yes, not no Japanese measurement
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
Irusu Pretending to be out when someone knocks at your door Japanese event funny
Shibui Old school cool Japanese attribute
Hatsuyume The first dream one has in the new year; thought to be an omen Japanese feeling
Kuebiko A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence Japanese adverse feeling
Tachiyomi To stand in a bookstore and read a book without buying it Japanese society funny action
On-nomi The practice of getting together with friends on the internet and having a drink together Japanese friends
Tsuji-giri To try out a new sword on a passer-by Japanese action violence
Utura-utura (うつらうつら) To drift between sleep and wakefulness. Japanese event time phsyical
Wabi-sabi Finding beauty within the imperfections of life and peacefully accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. Japanese beauty awareness
Majime (真面目) Reliable, responsible, diligent; seriousness, formality. Japanese society attribute
Kuidare To eat yourself into backruptcy Japanese food funny
Kokoro A unity of mind and heart. Japanese awareness feeling
Arigata-meiwaku When someone does something for you that you didn’t want them to do, and having to express gratitude for the act Japanese interaction
Umami A category of taste in food (besides sweet, sour, salt, and bitter); savoriness Japanese food attribute
Jibaku The act of unintentionally or inadvertently demolishing your own argument in the process of defending your view Japanese confusion interaction
Hikikomori Reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement Japanese society
Tatemae & Honne The contrast between a person's feelings and desires (honne) versus the behavior and opinions one displays in public (tatemae) Japanese feeling reflection character
Nintendo “Leave luck to heaven” or to leave one's fortune in the hands of fate Japanese philosophy fate




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