Lessons

Three Japanese Words I Wish English Had

IntermediateJapan & Culture

Three Japanese Words I Wish English Had

Some ideas need their own word

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Hello, everyone. When I speak English, sometimes I want to say something, but there's no perfect word for it. Today, I'll introduce three Japanese words I wish English had.

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Useful phrases

  • there's no perfect word for it

    No word explains it exactly.

  • I wish English had

    I would like English to have.

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  1. 01Three Japanese Words I Wish English Had

    Hello, everyone. When I speak English, sometimes I want to say something, but there's no perfect word for it. Today, I'll introduce three Japanese words I wish English had.

  2. 02Word 1: Tsundoku

    The first word is tsundoku. It means buying books and letting them pile up without reading them. To be honest, my room is full of tsundoku.

  3. 03Word 2: Komorebi

    The second word is komorebi. It describes the sunlight that shines through the leaves of trees. In English, you need a whole sentence to say it, but in Japanese, it's just one beautiful word.

  4. 04Word 3: Mottainai

    The third word is mottainai. We say it when something useful is wasted, like leftover food. It's not only "What a waste!" It also shows respect for things and the people who made them.

  5. 05Side by Side

    Here they are side by side. Each word packs a lot of meaning into a small space.

  6. 06Why These Words Matter

    I think these words show what Japanese people notice and care about: nature, respect, and, maybe, a love of books. Learning words like these helps you understand a culture, not just a language.

  7. 07Conclusion

    So, those are my three words: tsundoku, komorebi, and mottainai. Now I'm curious: what word from your language would you like to share with the world? Thank you.

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Three Japanese Words I Wish English Had (Intermediate) · Slidutter