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Wabi-sabi: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Wabi-sabi noun. A Japanese view of beauty that finds grace in imperfection, age and simplicity.
How to say it
wah-bee-SAH-bee/ˌwɑːbiˈsɑːbi/
4 syllables, stressed on the third (SAH).
Wabi-sabi in a sentence
The cracked bowl, mended with seams of gold, is pure wabi-sabi.
Her garden has a wabi-sabi charm: mossy steps, a leaning bench, no straight lines.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- imperfect beauty
- rustic simplicity
Where wabi-sabi comes from
Japanese, joining wabi, quiet simplicity, and sabi, the beauty of age and wear.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Her garden has a _____ charm: mossy steps, a leaning bench, no straight lines.
- wabi-sabi
- leitmotif
- raison d'être
Show the answer
wabi-sabi: Her garden has a wabi-sabi charm: mossy steps, a leaning bench, no straight lines.