Are you aware that there are a few Japanese words that have no exact equivalent? While some are similar to English concepts or can be delineated in English in a few words. But when you learn Japanese by enrolling yourself in Japanese language classes, you will find that many Japanese words come bearing concepts and meaning which have no existence in English language.
Here are some of those words.
- Shibui (シブい )
It means having a good taste and in a cool way. This is not used for young people. This is used for the elderly who have aged well and look attractive.
- Shouganai (しょうがない)
It means that it cannot be helped or fixed, so don’t stress over it. If anything happens that is totally out of your hands, then just don’t stress. In Japanese you just have to say, shouganai, it can’t be helped.
- Sugoi (すごい )
Sugoi means that English has so many words which are used in expressing wonderful and good like wow, amazing, superb, wonderful, great, fabulous, marvelous, super etc. In English language, there is not a definite and fixed word to convey all this, so Japanese have rooted it down to a single word, “sugoi!”
- Komorebi (木漏れ日)
It means the sunlight that filters via the trees. In Japanese, the way in which the sunlight tends to filter via the leaves of trees has their own Japanese noun which is known as komorebi.
- Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (よろしくおねがいします。)
It means that when you meet someone, it is just similar to saying, “nice to meet you.” However, this phrase can also be used when you ask someone to perform a task.
- Kouyou (紅葉)
When the leaves change color in the fall is called kouyou. In English this is referred to as fall foliage, however, not many people use it often. Kouyou is used to describe the colorful leaves of autumn.
- Gensōteki (幻想的)
In Japanese to English dictionary, this word means fantastic. However, that is a tad bit understated. Gensouteki means having more of a magical and mystical vibe to the subject like having glowing lanterns at night. It means describing a calming, eerie yet a gentle beauty.