Japanese Calligraphy - 気 - Japanese spirit/mind

「気」は日本人がとてもよく使う言葉です。生活の中で自然に考えているからかもしれませんね。簡単に3つの意味に分けられると思います。

‘ki ’ is frequently used in Japanese. This might be because we think about it naturally in our daily life. I would like to introduce 3 main usages of ‘ki ’ in Japanese.

1つ目は物理的に存在する「空気」「湯気」などです。

One is something physically exists such as ‘air’ and ‘steam’.

2つ目はエネルギーとしての気で、物理的な例では「電気」です。

Another meaning is energy, the typical example is ‘electric energy’.

3つ目は目に見えないけれど、感じることができるものについて使います。「気」を使ったフレーズがとてもたくさんあるので、少しだけ紹介します。The most common use is to mention something you cannot see but you can sense. This is called ‘6^th sense’ in English according to Cambridge Dictionary. There are many phrases using with ‘ki ’ but I will introduce a few examples below.

• 気が付く　ki ga tsuku ( to notice/ to realise/ to be aware of something)
• 気が利くki ga kiku (to sense the needs in a certain situation)
• 気を遣うki wo tsukau (to be considerate)
• 気にするki ni suru (to worry/ to concern)
• 気楽kiraru (easy mind ➡ relaxed mind)
• 元気genki (original mind/spirit ➡ healthy & energetic)
• 病気 byoki (ill-minded/spirited ➡ unhealthy/illness)

日本ではよく①気が付く人、②気が利く人、③気を遣える人が好かれる傾向があります。たぶん、他の人のことを考えることはこのグループ社会で大切なことだからなんですね。

In Japan often people who can ① ki ga tsuku, ②ki ga kiku and ③ki wo tsukau are likely to be popular.　 The reason could be because it is valued to understand and care others in this group-oriented society.

でも、その分いろいろなことを④気にしすぎる傾向もあると思います。もっと⑤気楽に生きることも大切かもしれません。何事もバランスが大事ですね。

But, I think there is a tendency to ④ki ni suru too much on many things as a result. So, it may be a good idea to live with ⑤kiraku a little bit more. It is always important to keep the balance.

面白いのは空気は生きるのに必要で、きれいな空気の中で生活して、あまりストレスがないと、元気でいられますね。でも、汚れた空気の中で生活して、ストレスなどが多いと病気になりやすいですね。きっと、「気」と「体」の関係はとても深いんですね。

What I found interesting is that we all need the air to live. And people who live with fresh air without stress tend to be healthy. But people who live with polluted air with stress are more likely to get ill. So, it seems that our ‘ki ‘ and body are strongly related.

そして、「見えないものを見る」という文化はきっと他の国にもあるかもしれませんね。例えば、インドのワンネスという考え方はおもしろいです。皆さんの国ではどんな「気」をつかっていますか。

Finally, there must be ‘the culture which people understand things that they can’t see’ in other countries too. For example, the idea of oneness in India is interesting. In your country, what kind of ‘ki ’ do you have and use?

Mineko Arai

Managing Director

Arai Academy of Japanese Studies

Calligraphy by Moji Brush →Instagram @mojibrush