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
Jibaku The act of unintentionally or inadvertently demolishing your own argument in the process of defending your view Japanese confusion interaction
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
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu Favorably, please. Japanese positive
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
Boketto (ぼけっと) gazing vacantly into the distance (without thought or sense of self). Japanese
Tokimeki ときめき Excitement; Feeling of bliss or joy from a discrete experience Japanese emotion feeling happiness
Seijaku (静寂) Quiet (sei) tranquillity (jaku); silence, calm, serenity (especially in the midst of activity or chaos). Japanese awareness beauty
Chindogu A person seemingly inventing ingenious everyday gadgets that seem like an ideal solution to a particular problem, but are in fact nothing more than a useless gag Japanese creative funny
Sokaiya A man with a few shares in several companies who extorts money by threatening to come to the shareholders' meetings and cause trouble Japanese adverse
Wasuremono Forgotten or lost things; an item left behind on a train or forgotten at home. Japanese adverse habits
Wabi-sabi Finding beauty within the imperfections of life and peacefully accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. Japanese beauty awareness
Fuubutsushi The things – feelings, scents, images – that evoke memories or anticipation for a particular season. Japanese time
Eshaku A slight bow of around 15 degrees Japanese physical action
Kuebiko A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence Japanese adverse feeling
Amaeru To seek affection through doing things like clinging or pleading Japanese persistence
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
On-nomi The practice of getting together with friends on the internet and having a drink together Japanese friends
Yugen A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe…and the sad beauty of human suffering. Japanese beauty awareness philosophy
Mono no aware The bittersweetness of a brief and grading moment of transcendent beauty. Japanese beauty
Ikigai A reason for being; the thing that gets you up in the morning. Japanese growth happiness
Haiku (俳句) A form of Japanese poetry, usually just 17 syllables long (with lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables), involving the sudden juxtapositions of ideas or images, and often focused on natural (e.g., seasonal) phenomena. Japanese art
Nintendo “Leave luck to heaven” or to leave one's fortune in the hands of fate Japanese philosophy fate
Komorebi (木漏れ日) Lit. wood is ‘leaking’ sunlight; dappled sunlight filtering through leaves. Japanese nature beauty
Utura-utura (うつらうつら) To drift between sleep and wakefulness. Japanese event time phsyical
Zanshin (残心) Lit. ‘remaining/enduring heart-mind’; a state of relaxed mental alertness (especially in the face of danger or stress). Japanese awareness




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