Word
ikigai
Phoneticsiki·gai
/ˌikiˈɡaɪ/
Definition
n. a Japanese idea about finding a reason to get up in the morning. It is the point where what you love, what you are good at, and what the world needs all meet.
n. a Japanese concept referring to a motivating force or a reason for being. It represents the intersection of personal passion, professional vocation, and social contribution.
Examples
“Finding your ikigai can make your daily work feel much more meaningful.”
“Many people in Okinawa attribute their long and happy lives to having a clear ikigai that keeps them active.”
“The seminar encouraged participants to map their skills against global needs to identify a sustainable ikigai that balances personal fulfillment with economic necessity.”
Examples
simple
“Finding your ikigai can make your daily work feel much more meaningful.”
contextual
“Many people in Okinawa attribute their long and happy lives to having a clear ikigai that keeps them active.”
complex
“The seminar encouraged participants to map their skills against global needs to identify a sustainable ikigai that balances personal fulfillment with economic necessity.”
Usage
Often used in psychological and self-help contexts to describe a sense of purpose.
Real-World Examples
“The term ikigai is a succinct way to describe what gets you up in the morning – be it work, family or a well-loved hobby – much like a prosaic version of the French raison d'être.” “Their secret is “ikigai”, a unique sense of purpose.” “In Japan, the act of retiring and disengaging from mental and physical activities is often viewed as detrimental to one’s health, as it disconnects individuals from their ikigai.” “This word gained recognition among many non-Japanese following the overseas publication in 2016 of a book titled Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.” Etymology
From Japanese ikigai (生き甲斐), a compound of iki (生き, "living, life") and gai (甲斐, "worth, use, benefit"). The word entered English in the early twenty-first century, typically untranslated, as a loanword denoting one's reason for being or sense of purpose in life.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
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