Japanese culture in words

100 Japanese cultural words in 10 topics. Read the kana, romaji, English meaning and an original example on each word page.

• 論理 — Logic; reasoning
• 論点 — Point at issue
• 哲学 — Philosophy
• 思想 — Thought; a system of ideas
• 観念 — Idea; conception
• 価値観 — Values; outlook on what matters
• 世界観 — Worldview; a work's imagined world
• 倫理 — Ethics
• 道徳 — Morality; moral principles
• 公共性 — Public character; public interest
• 侘び — Austere, unpretentious beauty
• 寂び — Beauty of age and quiet weathering
• 幽玄 — Mysterious, subtle depth
• 間 — Interval; meaningful space or timing
• 物の哀れ — Sensitivity to the poignancy of things
• 余情 — Lingering feeling beyond what is said
• 渋い — Restrained; tasteful; astringent
• 粋 — Chic, understated sophistication
• 風流 — Refined enjoyment of beauty
• 雅 — Courtly refinement
• 和 — Harmony; Japanese style
• 本音 — True feelings; private opinion
• 建前 — Public position; stated principle
• 遠慮 — Restraint; holding back out of consideration
• 思いやり — Consideration for another person's feelings
• 気遣い — Attentive consideration
• 空気を読む — Read the room
• 甘え — Reliance on another's indulgence
• 義理 — Social obligation; duty
• 人情 — Human feeling; warmth or sympathy
• おもてなし — Thoughtful hospitality
• 一期一会 — Treasure this unrepeatable encounter
• 設え — Arranging a setting to receive people
• 礼儀 — Etiquette; courteous conduct
• 丁寧 — Careful; courteous; thorough
• 謙遜 — Modesty; playing down one's merits
• 謙譲 — Humbly yielding or lowering oneself
• おかげさま — Thanks to your support; thankfully
• 感謝 — Gratitude
• 躾 — Teaching manners and habits
• 旬 — Peak season; at its seasonal best
• 季節感 — A sense of the season
• 風物詩 — A characteristic seasonal sight or event
• 花見 — Blossom viewing
• 紅葉狩り — Viewing autumn leaves
• 月見 — Moon viewing
• 雪見 — Snow viewing
• 名残 — Lingering trace; reluctance at parting
• 移ろい — Gradual change; passing from one state to another
• 節目 — Turning point; significant milestone
• 職人 — Craftsperson; skilled tradesperson
• 匠 — Master craftsperson; mastery
• ものづくり — Making things; manufacturing
• 技 — Skill; technique
• 修行 — Disciplined training
• 継承 — Passing on; succession
• 伝統 — Tradition
• こだわり — Particular care; insistence
• 手仕事 — Handwork; work done by hand
• 用の美 — Beauty arising from practical use
• 書道 — Japanese calligraphy
• 華道 — The art of flower arranging
• 茶道 — The way of tea; tea practice
• 能 — Noh theatre
• 歌舞伎 — Kabuki theatre
• 落語 — Comic storytelling
• 俳句 — Haiku poetry
• 短歌 — Tanka poetry
• 季語 — Season word in poetry
• 見立て — Seeing one thing as another; interpretation
• もったいない — Wasteful; too valuable to waste
• いただきます — Said before eating; I humbly receive
• ごちそうさま — Thanks for the meal
• お裾分け — Sharing part of something received or made
• 縁側 — Veranda-like passage along a house
• 玄関 — Entrance area
• 和室 — Japanese-style room
• 床の間 — Display alcove in a Japanese-style room
• こたつ — Heated table covered with a quilt
• 故郷 — Hometown; place of origin
• 縁 — Connection; bond; circumstance bringing people together
• 絆 — Bond; close connection
• 内と外 — Inside and outside; one's group and others
• 世間 — The social world; people around one
• 根回し — Informal groundwork before a decision
• 以心伝心 — Tacit mutual understanding
• 阿吽の呼吸 — Perfectly coordinated timing
• 反省 — Reflection on one's shortcomings
• 改善 — Improvement
• 共生 — Living together; coexistence
• 生きがい — What makes life feel worth living
• 頑張る — Keep at it; make an effort
• 辛抱 — Patient endurance
• 忍耐 — Patience; endurance
• 無常 — Impermanence
• 縁起 — Dependent arising; auspiciousness
• 自然 — Nature; naturalness
• 調和 — Harmony; balanced relationship
• 温故知新 — Learning from the old to understand the new
• 初心 — Original intention; beginner's mindset