Ikigai
(pronounced ee-kee-guy, IPA: /’i:kigaı/) is a Japanese concept that means a reason for being or the thing that gives your life purpose and joy. It comes from iki (生き), meaning “life,” and gai (甲斐), meaning “worth” or “value.” Together, they express the idea of finding something that makes life feel worthwhile-a balance between what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
In Japanese philosophy, ikigai isn’t about grand ambition but about quiet fulfillment in daily living-waking up with a sense of purpose, even in small, simple things. It blends mindfulness, passion, and meaning into one harmonious outlook on life.
Example sentence: Teaching children has become her ikigai, the reason she greets each day with a smile and renewed energy.
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