ikigai

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reason for living, purpose in life, source of joy, sense of purpose, feeling that life is worthwhile
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/ikʲiɡai/
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A Japanese idea of life’s worth, covering both what makes life valuable and the feeling that life has meaning.

Examples

  • 仕事だけでなく、小さな趣味にも生きがいを見つけられる。
    A source of meaning can be found not only in work but also in small hobbies.
  • 祖母にとって、孫と過ごす時間が生きがいだ。
    For my grandmother, time with her grandchildren is her reason for living.
  • 病気のあと、彼は生きがいを失いかけた。
    After the illness, he nearly lost his sense of purpose.
  • 子どもの成長を見るのが私の生きがいです。
    Watching my children grow is my reason for living.
  • 旅先での出会いが、生活に生きがいを与えた。
    An encounter while traveling gave his life new meaning.

Similar words

目的
充実感
使命
生きる意味
張り合い
目的意識
張り合い
心の支え
生きる喜び
やりがい

Meanings

Something worth living for

noun
wellbeing
neutral
A person, activity, aim, or value that makes life feel worth living.

Usage

Use ikigai for what gives life value or joy, whether it is family, work, craft, service, or a small daily practice.

Examples

  • 祖母にとって、孫と過ごす時間が生きがいだ。
    For my grandmother, time with her grandchildren is her reason for living.
  • 毎朝畑に出ることが父の生きがいになっている。
    Going out to the fields every morning has become my father’s purpose.
  • 仕事だけでなく、小さな趣味にも生きがいを見つけられる。
    A source of meaning can be found not only in work but also in small hobbies.
  • 彼女は地域の活動に新しい生きがいを見いだした。
    She found a new reason for living in community activities.
  • 退職後、陶芸が彼の生きがいになった。
    After retirement, pottery became his source of purpose.
  • 子どもの成長を見るのが私の生きがいです。
    Watching my children grow is my reason for living.

Common mistakes

ikigai is narrowed to a career formula or treated as any casual pastime.
IncorrectCorrect
私の生きがいは高いです。 私の生きがいは大きいです。
給料だけが私の生きがいをします。 仕事で人の役に立つことが私の生きがいです。
生きがいを食べる。 生きがいを感じる。

Similar words

Sense that life has worth

noun
psychology
neutral
The felt assurance that living has value, direction, or joy.

Usage

Use ikigai for the felt support that makes daily life meaningful, not only for a grand mission.

Examples

  • 生きがいを感じると、毎日に張りが出る。
    When someone feels purpose, everyday life gains energy.
  • 病気のあと、彼は生きがいを失いかけた。
    After the illness, he nearly lost his sense of purpose.
  • 仲間に必要とされることが、強い生きがいにつながった。
    Being needed by friends led to a strong feeling that life was worthwhile.
  • 彼女は音楽を通して生きがいを取り戻した。
    She regained her sense of purpose through music.
  • 生きがいがある人は、困難にも向き合いやすい。
    People with a sense of purpose often face hardship more easily.
  • 旅先での出会いが、生活に生きがいを与えた。
    An encounter while traveling gave his life new meaning.

Common mistakes

ikigai is treated like a measurable score or a cure-all for happiness.
IncorrectCorrect
生きがいが退屈です。 生きがいを感じません。
彼は生きがいを失礼しました。 彼は生きがいを失いました。
生きがいは薬です。 生きがいは心の支えになります。

Similar words

Usage

Use ikigai broadly for value, joy, and purpose in life, and avoid presenting the modern four-circle diagram as the original Japanese meaning.

Common mistakes

ikigai is reduced to a career chart, although Japanese use can include children, friends, hobbies, craft, service, and everyday joys.

Etymology

From Japanese 生き甲斐 or 生きがい, from 生き, the continuative form of 生きる, plus 甲斐 meaning worth or value, with kai becoming gai by rendaku.

FAQ

What does ikigai mean?

ikigai means something that makes life worth living, or the feeling that life has value.

How is ikigai written in Japanese?

It is commonly written 生きがい or 生き甲斐.

Is ikigai only about work?

No. ikigai can come from work, family, friends, hobbies, service, or small daily joys.

Is the four-circle diagram the original meaning of ikigai?

No. The diagram is a modern self-help frame, not the whole Japanese meaning of ikigai.

Can ikigai be a person?

Yes. A child, friend, partner, or community can be someone’s ikigai.

Can ikigai change over time?

Yes. A person’s ikigai can shift with age, health, work, relationships, and circumstances.

What is the difference between ikigai and a hobby?

A hobby is an activity, while ikigai is the value or joy that may come from that activity.

Where does ikigai come from?

ikigai combines 生き, linked to living, with 甲斐, meaning worth or value.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Loyal Leopard
3 days ago
I wish the English internet would stop making every Japanese word into homework
0
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Quirky Curlew
6 days ago
i always thought it was pronounced eye-key-guy until a podcast corrected me, oops
0
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Noble Warbler
Jul 5
推しが生きがい is very real internet Japanese btw. dramatic? yes. understandable? also yes
1
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Contribution
Zesty Newt
Jul 4
生き甲斐 and 生きがい are the same word. For normal posts and softer writing, the kana version looks less stiff to me. the full kanji one feels more bookish, maybe because 甲斐 is not a kanji you use every day
2
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Eager Puma
Jun 28
my grandma would absolutely say her garden is 生きがい, not a grand mission
1
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Rapid Raccoon
Jun 26
生きがい and やりがい are close but not twins. やりがい is more like this task or job is rewarding. 生きがい sounds bigger, like the thing that gives your life weight. 仕事にやりがいがある is not always 仕事が生きがい
1
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Contribution
Amber Walrus
Jun 21
You may also see 生きがい感 in Japanese psychology writing. That is the feeling or sense of ikigai, not the actual person or activity. Tiny distinction but it explains why translations jump between source of purpose and sense of purpose.
2
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Contribution
Wise Starling
Jun 17
Please dont turn this into only the Venn diagram thing. In Japanese it can be your kids, growing tomatoes, choir practice, whatever keeps the day worth doing. The four boxes are a western coaching tool more than the word itself
3
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Steady Tanager
Jun 23
yeah the paid for part especially feels imported to me
1
Contribution
Nifty Caribou
Jun 16
The Ogimi examples are a good reality check on the self-help version. When people there were asked, answers were stuff like friends, gardening, art. not exactly a salary worksheet lol
5
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Glad Ferret
Jun 17
this is why I like translating it as what keeps you going, less fancy but closer sometimes
1
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