word
Japanese
wabi-sabi
WAH-bee SAH-bee
ˌwɑːbi ˈsɑːbiListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
wabisabi
Sounds like
Say 'WAH-bee SAH-bee'.
Dictionary meaning
A Japanese aesthetic centred on the acceptance of imperfection, transience, and incompleteness.
History and origin
Japanese — 'wabi' (simplicity, the beauty of the imperfect) + 'sabi' (time's passage, rust).
Examples
- Wabi-sabi is why Japanese ceramics celebrate the crack repaired with gold (kintsugi).
Common mispronunciations
WAY-bee SAY-beeWAH-bi SAY-bi
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