English Meaning & Definitions
A reason for being; that which brings value, joy, and purpose to life, found at the intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession.
- “Gardening and woodworking gave the retired professor a vibrant daily ikigai.”
- “Finding your ikigai transforms routine work into deeply fulfilling craft.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “Ikigai”.
From Japanese 生き (iki, "life, living") + 甲斐 (gai, "worth, value, effect").
IKI (Life) + GAI (Worth) = What makes life worth living.
Frequently Asked Questions About “Ikigai”
1. What is the meaning of “Ikigai” in English?
In English, Ikigai (noun) is defined as: “A reason for being; that which brings value, joy, and purpose to life, found at the intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession.”.
2. How do you use “Ikigai” in a sentence?
“Gardening and woodworking gave the retired professor a vibrant daily ikigai.”
3. What are English synonyms of “Ikigai”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “Ikigai”?
From Japanese 生き (iki, "life, living") + 甲斐 (gai, "worth, value, effect").
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