Author Archives: Vicky

気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy”

Japanese martial arts practitioners often give a loud quick shout as they perform an attacking move. This shout is a 気合 (ki-ai), often translated as “meeting of spirit”. This ki is the ki in aikido, qigong, and reiki. Ki is a central principle in traditional Chinese medicine and Eastern martial arts. It has been translatedContinueContinue reading “気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy””

日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress”

This Japanese phrase is a 四字熟語 (“yo-ji-juku-go”), a 4-character idiom. The characters in this 4-character idiom are: 日 sun or day 進 continue 月 moon or night 歩 walk or step = continue, step by step, every day and night. This is often how I feel when I’m learning Japanese. Progress is so slow, butContinueContinue reading “日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress””

一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort”

Japanese learners will no doubt be familiar with this one. This is the first yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom) I ever learnt, and for ages I wasn’t aware of it being an idiomatic expression at all. It’s presented in Japanese textbooks as being a regular adjective with a meaning of something like “with utmost effort”. However, it isContinueContinue reading “一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort””

生き甲斐 (iki-gai) “reason for living”

Now in the Oxford English Dictionary, “Ikigai” is defined as “a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living” Whilst this concept has existed in Japanese culture for a long time, it was popularised by a Japanese psychiatrist Mieko Kamiya in the 1960s.  More recently it hasContinueContinue reading “生き甲斐 (iki-gai) “reason for living””

鏡花水月 (kyo-ka-sui-getsu) “untouchable beauty”

The kanji in this 4-character idiom are: 鏡 = mirror 花 = flower 水 = water 月 = moon It evokes the image of the full moon reflected in water, or a flower reflected in a mirror – something beautiful but out of reach. I chose this idiom to write today because it contains theContinueContinue reading “鏡花水月 (kyo-ka-sui-getsu) “untouchable beauty””

月 (tsu-ki) “moon”

This past weekend was Moon Viewing Day (Night?) in Japan. The first full moon in September is considered particularly clear and beautiful, much like the idea of a “harvest moon”.  In Japan, Moon Viewing Day is celebrated by eating white dumplings, and in China it is celebrated by eating special mooncakes, which contain a duck egg yolk.

無心 (mu-shin) “no-mind”

A state of mind when you are free from disturbing and intrusive thoughts. You are focussed wholly on the action you are performing at this moment. You are free to act and react based on inner-wisdom and instinct, without being influenced by desires and assumptions. Zen Buddhist practitioners seek to achieve this state of mind.ContinueContinue reading “無心 (mu-shin) “no-mind””

寿 (Kotobuki) “congratulations” or “long life”

This kanji is often found on Japanese greetings cards, and also on those fancy paper envelopes you put money in when you go to a wedding. It means “congratulations”. It can also mean “long life”. It is also the first kanji in the most common way to write sushi -（寿司）. This kanji is used forContinueContinue reading “寿 (Kotobuki) “congratulations” or “long life””