The Original Meaning of Words
One of the words used to describe Japanese people is the word “mottainai = もったいない.” Do you know this word?
We do not know exactly when the word “mottainai” was coined.
However, the general theory is that it dates back to Japan’s Muromachi period (1336–1573). In other words, this word has existed in Japan for over 500 years.
If we were to express “mottainai” in English, the world’s official language, would it be expressed as “too good to waste’’?
But this is just scratching the surface. Translation of words has its limits. This is because words are a form of expression that can be conveniently formed in order to understand a certain state or thing.
Of course words are important. People communicate through words.
However, words have their limits. This is because there are things in this world that cannot be conveyed through words.
One of them is the word “mottainai.”
What is the original meaning of this word?
I believe that it is one of the expressions of the Japanese spirit itself.
When we throw away something that can still be used, wastefully replace it with a new one, or leave food behind and throw it away, others say, “What a waste you are! Mottainai!’’ You may be affected.
However, I believe that what is truly important is reflected in the spirit of the Japanese people who naturally utter these words.
Japanese people generally have a national character of treating things with great care. We buy good items and use them for a long time, and even if they are old, we polish them many times to restore their shine and continue using them.
To be more specific and tell my story, I would like to explain it using leather bags and shoes.
I often wear leather shoes for work. In Japan, cheap leather shoes can be purchased for as little as 4,000 yen (approximately 30 USD).
Of course, these leather shoes are not natural leather but synthetic leather, but at first glance you won’t be able to tell the difference.
I bought leather shoes that cost around 20,000 yen (approximately 150 USD) and have been using them for a long time.
After you finish wearing your shoes for the day, be sure to put some desiccant into your shoes and lightly brush them.
On my day off, I carefully polish my shoes using a special cream and towel while putting the shoe keeper inside my shoes.
If the soles of your shoes are made of leather, apply a moisturizing cream to the soles as well. I carefully polish it myself so that it can be used for a long time.
This is the point. Japanese people have an aesthetic sense of “doing it yourself’’. Instead of paying a shoe shiner to shine your shoes, find meaning in doing it yourself.
This isn’t just about shoes. People who love music will take good care of their guitars and maintain them. Baseball players will take good care of their gloves and take measures to make them last longer.
It’s not just about what you value. Basically, it is a characteristic of Japanese people that they treat everything with great care.
To say that the word “mottainai’’ is a Japanese word is only superficial. It is important to understand why a word was created, what its original meaning is, and its deep meaning.
I recently heard something from a Brazilian friend. That word is “saudade.” Brazilians use Portuguese for historical reasons. So this word is Portuguese. In Japanese, it sounds similar to “nostalgia = 郷愁,’’ but when you listen to the conversation, it seems to be different.
I felt that something hidden within these words expressed the national character of the country.
Are there any words that are only found in your country?
Please let me know in the comments what word it is, if any. For me, I believe that the word “KIREI” is a word that can only be found in Japan.