32 Japanese Words That Don't Translate

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Does Not Translate

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32 Japanese Words That Don't Translate

Tsundoku·The act of leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piled up together with other such unread books.

wabi sabi·A world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

Gyakugire·Getting mad at somebody because they got mad at you for something you did.

Tachikurami·Temporary blindness from standing up too fast.

ブサカワ/busakawa·Ugly yet cute, adorably ugly.

Hikikomori·The phenomenon of reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement.

Kawa’akari·Lit. Riverlight.

別腹(Betsubara)·Literally extra stomach, usually used by children to explain why they have room for dessert even when they are already full from dinner.

Shimau·Combined with a verb to indicate something was done without meaning to or recklessly.

Aizuchi·To interject into a monologue with a short phrase to indicate understanding and active listening.

Thomasson·A useless relic or structure that has been preserved as part of a building or the built environment.

Bakku-shan·A girl who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.

Mikkabouzu 三日坊主·Literally A three-day monk, meaning someone who gives up too easily or can't stick to something.

渋み·One of Aesthetic Sense/Calm, Deep taste(food,art,etc).

Kenjataimu·The period after orgasm when a man is free from sexual desire and can think clearly.

Aidzuchi (あいづち)·Sounds made during a conversation to indicate that you are listening.

痛車 (itasha)·A car painted with anime characters (lit: painful car, because it's painful to look at).

固唾 Katazu·Saliva held in one's mouth during times of tension.

干物女 (Himono-onna)·(noun) A woman with little to no interest in relationships, and that prefers to stay at home lazying around; especially when showing a social face while outside.

Otonagai·おとながい.

相合い傘 (aiaigasa)·To share an umbrella.

Honne (本音)·The contrast between what one truly believes honne and what beliefs one displays in public tatemae.

Hibakusha·A term used to refer to those who survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; literally translates as explosion-affected people.

仲間 (nakama)·A friend who is your colleague, partner, teammate, or comrade.

Zettai ryōiki 絶対領域·The area of bare skin in the gap between overknee socks and a miniskirt.

背乗り (hainori)·To take over a foreigner's identity for espionage.

Kikokushijo·Refers to children of expatriates who take part of their education outside Japan.

小確幸 shōgakkō·Small but certain happinesses in life.

立ち読み·Tachiyomi (lit. standing reading) standing and reading (sometimes for lengthy periods) through magazines or books before/without purchasing them. Usually seen at corner shops and bookstores.

闇討ち yamiuchi·To sneak-attack someone in the dark.