ikigai

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 生き甲斐.

Noun

ikigai (uncountable)

1. The Japanese concept of a reason for being, and having a sense of purpose based on one's interests and talents.
   • 2017 September 11, Suzanne Moore, “What's next after hygge? My search for the next big fad”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     People certainly do live long lives in Japan because of this ikigai. It is part of a sense of community and expressing one’s individuality quietly.

See also

• raison d'être

Japanese

Romanization

ikigai

1. Rōmaji transcription of いきがい