Mandarin
Yuan fen
/yoo-en fen/
The fateful coincidence that brings people together; a binding force of destiny.
Lit. Fateful coincidence
Describes the serendipitous connection between people who were meant to meet.
- #connection
- #fate
- #love
Asia
Millennia of philosophy have given rise to words that illuminate the deepest truths of human existence.
Asian languages are treasure troves of philosophical concepts. Japanese alone offers "wabi-sabi," "ikigai," and "komorebi"—words that capture the beauty of imperfection, purpose, and nature. Each word is a window into worldviews refined over millennia.
Countries in Asia
5 phrases from Asia
Hindi
Jugaad
/joo-GAARD/
Innovative fix or creative problem-solving with limited resources.
Finding clever, unconventional solutions when facing constraints or challenges.
- #resilience
- #wisdom
Korean
Nunchi
/noon-chee/
The subtle art of listening and gauging others' moods; social awareness and emotional intelligence.
Reading a room to understand the dynamics and responding appropriately without words.
- #connection
- #wisdom
Japanese
Ikigai
/ee-kee-GUY/
A reason for being; the thing that gets you up in the morning with purpose and joy.
Lit. Life worth living
Describes your intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession.
- #joy
- #philosophy
- #wisdom
Japanese
Wabi-sabi
/WAH-bee SAH-bee/
Finding beauty in imperfection and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay.
Appreciating the beauty of a cracked ceramic bowl or the patina on old wood.
- #nature
- #philosophy
- #wisdom