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100 Beautiful and Ugly Words
By Mark Nichol
One of the many fascinating features of our language is how often words with pleasant associations are also quite pleasing on the tongue and even to the eye, and how many words, by contrast, acoustically and visually corroborate their disagreeable nature — look no further than the heading for this post.
Enrich the poetry of your prose by applying words that provide precise connotation while also evoking emotional responses. (Note the proportion of beautiful words to ugly ones in the compilation below; it’s easier to conjure the former than the latter, though I omitted words associated with bodily functions, as well as onomatopoeic terms.)
Notice how often attractive words present themselves to define other beautiful ones, and note also how many of them are interrelated, and what kind of sensations, impressions, and emotions they have in common. Also, try enunciating beautiful words as if they were ugly, or vice versa. Are their sounds suggestive of their quality, or does their meaning wholly determine their effect on us?
Beautiful Words
Amorphous: indefinite, shapeless Beguile: deceive Caprice: impulse Cascade: steep waterfall Cashmere: fine, delicate wool Chrysalis: protective covering Cinnamon: an aromatic spice; its soft brown color Coalesce: unite, or fuse Crepuscular: dim, or twilit Crystalline: clear, or sparkling Desultory: half-hearted, meandering Diaphanous: gauzy Dulcet: sweet Ebullient: enthusiastic Effervescent: bubbly Elision: omission Enchanted: charmed Encompass: surround Enrapture: delighted Ephemeral: fleeting Epiphany: revelation Epitome: embodiment of the ideal Ethereal: celestial, unworldly, immaterial Etiquette: proper conduct Evanescent: fleeting Evocative: suggestive Exuberant: abundant, unrestrained, outsize Felicity: happiness, pleasantness Filament: thread, strand Halcyon: care-free Idyllic: contentedly pleasing Incorporeal: without form Incandescent: glowing, radiant, brilliant, zealous Ineffable: indescribable, unspeakable Inexorable: relentless Insouciance: nonchalance Iridescent: luster Languid: slow, listless Lassitude: fatigue Lilt: cheerful or buoyant song or movement Lithe: flexible, graceful Lullaby: soothing song Luminescence: dim chemical or organic light Mellifluous: smooth, sweet Mist: cloudy moisture, or similar literal or virtual obstacle Murmur: soothing sound Myriad: great number Nebulous: indistinct Opulent: ostentatious Penumbra: shade, shroud, fringe Plethora: abundance Quiescent: peaceful Quintessential: most purely representative or typical Radiant: glowing Redolent: aromatic, evocative Resonant: echoing, evocative Resplendent: shining Rhapsodic: intensely emotional Sapphire: rich, deep bluish purple Scintilla: trace Serendipitous: chance Serene: peaceful Somnolent: drowsy, sleep inducing Sonorous: loud, impressive, imposing Spherical: ball-like, globular Sublime: exalted, transcendent Succulent: juicy, tasty, rich Suffuse: flushed, full Susurration: whispering Symphony: harmonious assemblage Talisman: charm, magical device Tessellated: checkered in pattern Tranquility: peacefulness Vestige: trace Zenith: highest point
Ugly Words
Cacophony: confused noise Cataclysm: flood, catastrophe, upheaval Chafe: irritate, abrade Coarse: common, crude, rough, harsh Cynical: distrustful, self-interested Decrepit: worn-out, run-down Disgust: aversion, distaste Grimace: expression of disgust or pain Grotesque: distorted, bizarre Harangue: rant Hirsute: hairy Hoarse: harsh, grating Leech: parasite, Maladroit: clumsy Mediocre: ordinary, of low quality Obstreperous: noisy, unruly Rancid: offensive, smelly Repugnant: distasteful Repulsive: disgusting Shriek: sharp, screeching sound Shrill: high-pitched sound Shun: avoid, ostracize Slaughter: butcher, carnage Unctuous: smug, ingratiating Visceral: crude, anatomically graphic
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12 Beautiful And Untranslatable Japanese Words
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“If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.”
‒ Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Do you agree with this quote? I know I do. Many languages have beautiful and unique words which cannot be translated. These words often represent concepts which are so unique to that culture, there is simply no equivalent in any other language.
We’ve collected 12 of our favourite Japanese words with no English equivalent.
The interesting thing about these words is that they reveal a lot about the Japanese character. Many of these words reflect Buddhist concepts which are unknown to many Westerners, but are central ideas in Japanese society.
By learning these unique Japanese words, you are one step closer to understanding the Japanese soul.
Shinrinyoku 森林浴
Shinrinyoku literally translates as ‘forest bath’. It refers to taking a walk in the forest for its restorative and therapeutic benefits. Can’t you feel yourself relaxing as you soak up all the lovely green light? Scientists have actually found that walking in the forest has many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and stress hormones. It seems the Japanese are one step ahead with their shinrinyoku practise!
Komorebi 木漏れ日
The sunlight filtered through leaves on trees. This is a beautiful word to describe a beautiful moment. You can enjoy some komorebi while taking your shinrinyoku!
Kuidaore 食い倒れ
Kuidaore means something like ‘to eat yourself bankrupt’. The word implies a kind of extravagant love of good food and drink – so much love that you will happily spend all your money on it! It comes from the words 食い (kui – eating) and 倒れる (daoreru – to go bankrupt, be ruined). Kuidaore has come to be associated with the Dōtonbori district in Osaka, famed for its many restaurants and nightlife spots. You have been warned!
Tsundoku 積ん読
Here’s one for the book lovers. Tsundoku is the practise of acquiring books and letting them pile up, unread. Anyone who just loves books but doesn’t have time to read them as fast as they buy them will understand this one. It uses the words 積む (tsumu – to pile up) and 読 (doku – to read). It’s also a clever pun, because tsunde oku means ‘pile up and leave’.
Wabi-sabi 侘寂
Wabi-sabi means imperfect or incomplete beauty. This is a central concept in Japanese aesthetics, which comes from Buddhist teachings on the transient nature of life. A pot with a uneven edges is more beautiful than a perfectly smooth one, because it reminds us that life is not perfect. A Japanese craftsman will intentionally add in a small flaw after completing his perfect work in honour of this concept.
Kintsugi 金継ぎ
Kintsugi (金継ぎ), also known as kintsukuroi (金繕い), is the practise of mending broken pottery with gold or silver to fill the cracks. This is a perfect example of wabi-sabi. Rather than rejecting a broken item, you can find a way to make it even more beautiful. This practise accepts the break as part of the object’s unique history.
Mono no aware 物の哀れ
Mono no aware can be translated as ‘the sadness of things’. It comes from the words 物 (mono – thing) and 哀れ (aware – poignancy or pathos). The ‘sadness’ in question comes from an awareness of the transience of things, as taught by Zen Buddhism. When we view something exceptionally beautiful, we might feel sad because we know it won’t stay so beautiful forever – but appreciation only heightens the pleasure we take in the beautiful thing in that moment. The best example of mono no aware in Japanese culture is hanami, the ritual of appreciating the cherry blossoms each year. Cherry blossom are very special to the Japanese, but the flowers bloom for only two weeks in the springtime. We appreciate the flowers even more because we know they will fall soon.
Irusu 居留守
Irusu is when somebody you don’t want to speak to rings your doorbell, and you pretend nobody’s at home. I think people do this the world over, even if other languages don’t have such a concise word for it!
Nekojita 猫舌
Here’s a cute one! A nekojita is a person who is sensitive to hot foods and drinks. It literally translates as cat tongue! It’s made from the two words 猫 (neko – cat) and 舌 (shita – tongue). Do cats really hate hot things? I don’t know, but this Japanese word implies that they do!
Karoshi 過労死
Karoshi means death from overworking. Tragically, the fact that there is a word for this in Japanese also tells you something about Japanese culture. Karoshi is usually associated with Japanese salarymen who work in a corporate culture of extreme long hours. The Japanese Ministry of Labour official defines karoshi as when somebody works over 100 hours of overtime in the month before their death. The phenomenon reached an all time high last year.
Shoganai しょうがない
If you live in Japan, this one will be very useful for you! Shoganai means ‘it can’t be helped’. It’s a fatalistic resignation to a situation that is out of your control. It is often used to mean that there is no point complaining about a situation, because you will not have the power to change it. Some people suggest that the concept of shoganai is why Japanese people remain so stoic in the face of natural disasters such as tsunami and earthquakes.
Natsukashii 懐かしい
Natsukashii is often translated as ‘nostalgic’. However, whereas nostalgic is a sad emotion in English, natsukashii is usually associated with positive feelings. Something is natsukashii if it allows you to relive happy memories of the past.
Want to learn more awesome Japanese words? Grab a free trial of our recommended course.
Most Beautiful French Words That Will Impress Anyone
Here are the most beautiful French words
Argent – silver
Argent is used in English too to refer to something silver and shiny. For example,a damsel in distress may be rescued by an argent squire..romantic!
Masculine, noun
Atout – asset
Masculine, noun
Arabesque – in Arabic fashion or style
Feminine, noun
Bijoux – jewelry
Masculine, noun
Bisous – kisses
Masculine, noun
Example: ‘She said farewell to him with lots of hugs and kisses’ – Elle lui a dit adieu avec beaucoup de câlins et de bisous
Bonbon – candy
This French word for candy is used all over the world. Bonbons mean candy in a lot of countries, it’s a word which suits them perfectly
Masculine, noun
Brindille – twig
Feminine, noun
Example: ‘Twigs and leaves crack underfoot in the autumn sun’ – Sous le soleil d’autumn les brindilles et les feuilles se cassent sous nos pas
Câlin – hug
Masculine, noun
Cliché – stereotype
Masculine, noun
Chagrin – grief
Masculine, adjective
Cherie – dear
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Mon Cheri’ in a romantic movie? It means ‘my dear’ or ‘my darling’.
Feminine, noun
Chouchou – darling
Feminine, noun
Coeur – heart
Masculine, noun
Example: ‘The sacred heart is a famous parisian church’ – Le sacré cœur est une église parisienne
Consciencieuse – conscientious
Feminine, adjective
Coquelicot – poppy
Masculine, noun
Couture – sewing
Feminine, verb
Masculine, noun
Décolleté – neckline on a woman’s dress or top
Masculine, noun
éphémère – ephemeral, (lasting a short time)
Masculine, noun
Escargot – snail
L’escargot are snails, which are world famous delicacies in French cuisine.
Masculine, noun
Étoile – star
Feminine, noun
Excellence – to surpass
Yes, this really is the same as the English word excellence and their definitions are the same.
Feminine, adjective
Florilège – anthology
Masculine, noun
Jolie – pretty
Some surnames, like that of Angelina Jolie use this French word.
Feminine, adjective
Incroyable – incredible
Another French word which sounds very close to its English equivalent.
Feminine, noun
Libellule – dragonfly
Feminine, noun
Example: ‘A dragonfly zips over glistening water’ – La libellule se faufile sur l’eau brillante
Magnifique – wonderful
Feminine, adjective
Mélange – mixture
Masculine, noun
Noir – black
Noir is used internationally to denote dark films and cinema, a trend which originated in France; ‘Film Noir’
Masculine, adjective
Pamplemousse – grapefruit
Masculine, noun
Pantoufle – slipper
Feminine, noun
Papillon – butterfly
This French word seems delicate, just like a butterfly. French words have an awesome ability to mirror the fragility of what they are describing.
Parapluie – umbrella
You can see here the common prefix ‘para’ meaning ‘beside’ or ‘at one side’. So a parasol, which is an umbrella for the sun, means that it is beside the sun (and therefore shielding it).
Masculine, noun
Paupiette – a piece of meat, beaten thin, and rolled with a stuffing of vegetables, fruits or sweetmeats
Feminine, noun
Romanichel – gypsy
Feminine, noun
Silhouette – silhouette
Feminine, noun
Soirée – evening
Soiree is used in English to denote a posh or formal night, usually with accompanying musical performance or other similar artful activity.
Feminine, noun
Tournesol – sunflower
Feminine, noun
Vichyssoise – from vichy
Masculine, noun
Want more language learning tips? Check these out:
12 Beautiful Japanese Words You Have To Know
A few years ago, I was introduced to the language of Japanese through work. These 12 beautiful Japanese words you have to know, for me, sum up how incredible the language is.
I remember the first time diving into the language of Japanese, I was smitten with the way the language could describe something. It was “words” we didn’t quite have in English. I found often that the Japanese language would often describe those in-between moments – the moments that are so hard to verbalize.
12 Beautiful Japanese Words You Have to Know
1. Shinrinyoku (森林浴)
You know that moment you walk through a forest and all of the natural, green light goes over you? This word describes that moment of soaking it all in and is translated as “forest bath.” How magical.
2. Ikigai (生きがい)
This was one of the first Japanese words I learned – it describes the reason for being, the reason for why you get up in the morning.
3. Itadakimasu (いただきます)
It’s often said before every meal and it means “I humbly receive.” It captures appreciation for the work that went into preparing the meal.
4. Natsukashii (懐かしい)
A word that captures the nostalgia for the past or close memory.
5. Wabi-Sabi (侘寂)
When I think of Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi comes straight to mind. It’s hard to capture in English but essentially describes the concept that beauty lies in the imperfections of nature.
6. Kanbina (甘美な)
A word that describes when a word sounds pleasant to hear.
7. Mono-no-aware (物の哀れ)
It essentially captures that beauty is subjective and that our senses to the world around us make it beautiful – especially that beauty is impermanent and makes us appreciate it more. The best example is cherry blossoms falling springtime.
8. Furusato (ふるさと)
Though it describes one’s hometown, it’s not always about where we are from but often where our hearts long for.
9. Tsundoku (積ん読)
I love this one. It describes someone who is a book lover and collects so many that they pile up. Like a cross between a book worm and a hoarder.
10. Majime (まじめ)
This is a reliable someone who gets things done, san the drama.
11. Yugen (幽玄)
A word that describes a deep emotional awareness when triggered by being aware of the universe.
12. Mamori Tai (守りたい)
It’s a phrase that essentially says “I will always protect you” and often comes from a loved one.
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