Word of the Day – Ikigai

Ikigai (noun) (Japanese)

ik-ee-gai

one’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation.

Ikigai was first recorded in English between 1970–75, from Japanese it translates literally as “the value of being alive.” Ikigai is formed from iki, meaning “life, living, being alive,” and kai, meaning “worth, value, benefit.”

Example sentences

“If you want to be happy, you have to choose your ikigai.”