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Japanese Words Tattoos – Most Beautiful Japanese Words You Can Use as Tattoo
Japan uses the Japanese Language or Nihongo as their language. It is considered one of the most challenging languages to learn. Nihongo is so easy to recognize from other languages, it also has an enigmatic aura.
Though no longer considered a language isolate, Nihongo forms a family with only the Ryukyuan languages. Its history or when it first appeared in Japan is still a mystery.
You cannot use Nihongo internationally, unlike the English and Spanish language. Still, it is popular, especially among weebs like me those interested in Japanese subcultures; such as anime, manga, and Jpop.
It might be exasperating for the learners, but that only shows how intricate and elegant the Japanese language is.
Let’s look at the beautiful Japanese words with beautiful meanings- that you can even use as a tattoo.
Japanese Words Tattoos – At Your Own Risk
Disclaimer: Of course, if you fancy a word here for your next tattoo, do your research and check if it’s the right words you’re looking for.
Something that doesn’t have a name or identity.
Clumsily translated, it means wistful, or bittersweet, but it also means more than that. A subtle emotion of bittersweet and seemingly endless pain. Setsunai requires a sensitive nature to feel and is often associated with heartache and disappointment.
The act of viewing the moon, which is often enjoyed en-masse during moon-viewing festivals in September or October.
Literally “the floating world.” Living at the moment, detached from the bothers of life.
The idea that people, like flowers, bloom on their own time and their individual ways.
This one is my favorite and will probably use it if I ever get a Japanese word tattoo. Often translated as “Love at first sight,’ ‘Koi no Yokan’ is not quite the head-over-heels love you’d expect from the mistranslation. More accurately, it means you are bound to fall in love even if you don’t feel it now.
This word refers to light reflected off a river at night or dusk.
Kouyou is a way to say, “The leaves are changing color, so Autumn is near.”
Repairs pottery with gold or silver. Instead of trying to blend and hide the imperfection. Kintsukurai highlights its beauty.
More Japanese Words – Tattoos
Embraces the spirit of friendliness to strangers.
The zen experiences or enlightenment. When one’s nature is seen for what is truly is.
It is what it is.
Just by yourself. It is a way to tell people to take a break from the pressure of the real world. To be who you are without consequence.
To get back up and recover after loss in life.
Forest bathing. Describes spending time in the forest to reduce stress.
A cold wind of winter that sends shiver down your spine.
Often translated directly as a sort of frustrated “yearning”, “desire”, or “longing”. Akogare is not necessarily romantic or sexual in nature.
It refers to something that is visible but can’t be touched. Like the moon’s reflection on the water. Or, an emotion that can’t be described in words.
When you are “mouth lonely” you eat out of boredom rather than hunger.
Unattainable goal.
The beauty that comes from imperfections.
The interplay between light and leaves when sunlight shines through trees.
Light rain.
Art of buying books and never reading them.
Wonder
Japanese value roughly corresponding to “duty”, “obligation”, or even “burden of obligation” in English. It is defined as “to serve one’s superiors with a self-sacrificing devotion” by Namiko Abe.
The general term used to describe the concept of Japanese hospitality. It goes beyond simply providing a service. Japanese service requires genuine empathy and concern.
3 Alphabets, 1 Language – Nihongo
/nihoɴɡo/: [ɲihoŋɡo], [ɲihoŋŋo]
Indigenous face concept in Japanese culture. It refers to individuals’ social image of the extent to which they fulfill their ascribed social role.
The muted coolness of simplicity and minimalism
Literally “the pathos of things”. It also translated as “an empathy toward things”, or “a sensitivity to ephemera”
meh.
The general term used to describe the concept of Japanese hospitality. It goes beyond simply providing a service – it requires genuine empathy and concern.
Death from being overworked.
Furusato is another word for one’s hometown, but it’s not simply about the place where you’re from but the place your heart long for.
Enryo is central to the image of Japan as a passive society, where people work to avoid conflict through self-restrain.
To shine.
Japanese term of Zen Buddhist origin which means “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.
Japanese value roughly corresponding to “duty,” “obligation,” or even “burden of obligation” in English. It is defined as “to serve one’s superiors with a self-sacrificing devotion” by Namiko Abe.
Term of Japanese origin that has been used by environmentalist. The term in Japanese conveys a sense of regret over waste; the exclamation “Mollanai!” can translate as “What a waste!”
To describe how cherry blossom petals float down en-masse, like snowflakes in a blizzard.
