30 words
Japanese untranslatable words
No clean English equivalent. The story has to do the translating.
- 甘え amae Sweetly leaning on someone close.
- 別腹 betsubara Dessert has its own stomach.
- ボケとツッコミ boke to tsukkomi Comedy duo roles, but in real conversation.
- エモい emoi Beautiful in a way that aches.
- 遠慮 enryo Holding back so nobody feels bad.
- ご縁 go en The invisible thread between people.
- 本音 honne What you actually think.
- 一期一会 ichigo ichie This exact gathering happens once.
- 生きがい ikigai The thing that gets you out of bed.
- 気が利く ki ga kiku Noticing what's needed before anyone asks.
- 木漏れ日 komorebi Sunlight through leaves.
- 食い倒れ kui daore Eating until your wallet falls over.
- 空気を読む kuuki wo yomu Reading the air, not the words.
- もったいない mottainai What a waste!
- モヤモヤ moyamoya Fog in the chest that won't clear.
- なんとなく nantonaku No reason. Just... somehow.
- 懐かしい natsukashii Oh, this takes me back!
- 猫舌 neko jita Cat tongue: can't eat hot food.
- 根回し nemawashi Winning the meeting before the meeting.
- 十八番 ohako Your guaranteed party piece.
- おもてなし omotenashi Service that guesses before you ask.
- せっかく sekkaku After all that effort — don't waste it.
- 森林浴 shinrin yoku Taking a bath in forest air.
- しょうがない shou ga nai Nothing to be done, so let it go.
- 忖度 sontaku Doing what the boss wants before they say it.
- スッキリ sukkiri Clear — the room and you, at once.
- 建前 tatemae The polite public version.
- 積ん読 tsundoku Buying books, not reading.
- 侘び寂び wabi sabi Beauty in things worn and imperfect.
- よろしく yoroshiku I'm counting on you — and you on me.
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All 308 words live in YABAI, a Japanese culture snack for Android.
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