Japanese Word · Intermediate
侘び寂び
wabi-sabi, an aesthetic of transience and imperfection
Pronunciation: [β̞a̠bʲisa̠bʲi]
Meaning
wabi-sabi, an aesthetic of transience and imperfection
Example
みんなも明るいばかりでなく、そのウラにある人生のわび・さびをわかるようにならなきゃダメだよ。
It’s not that everyone is so cheerful; you must understand the wabi-sabi of the life behind that facade.
Practice tips
- Practice 侘び寂び out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Japanese word is for intermediate-level learners.