undeniably-untranslatable-blog

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

热闹 (Re Nao)

ruh-now⎜ Adjective ⎜ Mandarin

Literally ‘hot noise/trouble’, 热闹 can loosely be translated as lively, or bustling with activity and sound. However, the Chinese word refers to specifically to the sounds of cars, people, and daily activity that one hears living in the city, with a positive connotation. Many Chinese people find this background soundtrack comforting, and can often be heard lamenting the lack of 热闹 in quieter settings. 热闹 can be also be the sign of a good party or celebration, a ‘很热闹的地方’ (very 热闹 place) is the place to be!

Above, the audio clip will give a taste of one 热闹 的地方, a walking street in Shanghai.

Sources:

Tatt, Lewis. "Why Is China So Noisy?" THE MANDARIN CORNER. WordPress.com, 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

Reisenauer, Andrea. "20 of the World's Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words." Rocket Languages. Libros Media, 27 Nov. 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

Kadre TV. “Shanghai, China Walking Street Natural sound.” Online video clip. Youtube. Google, 27 Oct. 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Schadenfreude & Fargen

Two opposite words from different language, Schadenfreude and Fargen are (respectively) used to describe joy at another’s misfortune, and joy at another’s success.

Schadenfreude, an abstract noun originating from German, describes the joy and satisfaction one can derive from another’s misfortune, particularly someone you envy or feel is unjustly in a superior position to you. It has been scientifically shown to manifest as early as 2 years old, even though many of us would rather not admit to feeling it ourselves. 

Fargen, a Yiddish verb, has the quite the opposite sentiment. Used as a verb (as in, I fargen you), the word means total, empathetic and unselfish happiness at another’s good luck.

Example Sentences:

Schadenfreude ist nicht die schönste, sondern die verlässlichste Freude.  

Schadenfreude is the not the most beautiful joy, yet it is the most reliable.

Etslenu lo yo’dim le fargen

People Simply do not know how to fargen here.

Sources

Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G., Dorin Ahronberg-Kirschenbaum, and Nirit Bauminger-Zviely. "There Is No Joy like Malicious Joy: Schadenfreude in Young Children."NCBI. Public Library of Science, 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

Carmon, Irin. "Ungrudging Happiness For Another's Good Fortune." Tablet Magazine. Nextbook, Inc., 18 June 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Honour, pleasure, reason, and every virtue we choose indeed for themselves (for if nothing resulted from them we should still choose each of them), but we choose them also for the sake of eudaimonia, judging that by means of them we shall be happy. Eudaimonia, on the other hand, no one chooses for the sake of these, nor, in general, for anything other than itself. (τιμὴν δὲ καὶ ἡδονὴν καὶ νοῦν καὶ πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν αἱρούμεθα μὲν καὶ δι᾽ αὐτά (μηθενὸς γὰρ ἀποβαίνοντος ἑλοίμεθ᾽ ἂν ἕκαστον αὐτῶν), αἱρούμεθα δὲ καὶ τῆς εὐδαιμονίας χάριν, (5) διὰ τούτων ὑπολαμβάνοντες εὐδαιμονήσειν. τὴν δ᾽ εὐδαιμονίαν οὐδεὶς αἱρεῖται τούτων χάριν, οὐδ᾽ ὅλως δι᾽ ἄλλο)

The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle, translated by William David Ross.

Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονίαν)

you-day-moh-nia ⎜ noun ⎜ Greek

Often incorrectly translated as “Happiness”, Eudaemonia refers to quintessential fulfillment, essentially the best, most valid way to live ones life, holding personal well being as the ultimate goal. Literally translated as a ‘good inner spirit’, the concept of Eudaimonia is essential to understanding Aristotle’s ethics and worldview, especially on the topic of self-actualization. 

Aristotle aims to tell us what to do to lead a fullfilling life. He believes that all activities we partake in are essentially for the sake of something further, a resulting ‘good’. These ‘goods’ are essentially the aim of any tasks we do, or the reason why we do these things. For example, the resulting ‘good’ from medicine would be health, from economics, wealth. Hence, Aristotle reasons, by observing the purposes of the activities we partake in, we can deduce the “good” in them. Eudaimonia can be seen as the ultimate of these ‘goods’, the process we go through to achieve this goal being the sum of all the lesser activities, and ‘goods’, we encounter as we go through life.

Sources:

Lacewing, Michael. "Aristotle on Eudaimonia." Aristoteles: Nikomachische Ethik (n.d.): 1-4.Routledge-Interactive. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

Aristotle, W. D. Ross, J. A. Smith, and L. J. Rather. The Works of Aristotle Translated into English under the Editorship of W.D. Ross. London: Oxford at the Clarendon, 1913. Print.

"Eudaemonia." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Eudaemonism." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 July 1998. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Hiraeth

heer-ayth ⎜ noun ⎜ Welsh

A longing for a rose coloured past, that never actually existed. Nostalgia for a better time that never was.

EXAMPLE:

Hiraeth mawr a hiraeth creulon,

Hiraeth sydd yn torri 'nghalon,

Pan fwy' dryma'r nos yn cysgu

Fe ddaw hiraeth ac a'm deffry

- Old Welsh Penillion 

(Hiraeth’s deep and brutal smart, Hiraeth tis, that breaks my heart. When heaviest sleep at night o’retakes me, Hiraeth comes, alas, and wakes me.)

Sources:

“15 Untranslatable Words You Wish Existed in English.” Lingholic. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

The Cambro-Britain. Vol. 1. N.p.: Mills and Rhind, 1820. Print.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Goya गोया

goy-uh ⎜ N/A ⎜ Urdu

Literally ‘as if’, Goya refers to a momentary suspension of disbelief, where fantasy is so encompassing that it can seem to blend with reality. Often associated with good storytelling, the word can also be translated as ‘as though it were’.

EXAMPLE:

تم میرے پاس ہوتے ہو گویا, جب کوئی دوسرا نہیں ہوتا.

Tum mere paas hote ho goya, Jab koi doosra nahi hota.

- Momin Khan

In the above ghazal (a Middle-Eastern/Indian form of poetry, made up of 4 independent shers, or couplets ) the word ‘goya’ is used in a particularly interesting manner. It is said that a fellow famed Pakastani poet, Ghalib, traded Momin his entire diwan (poetry collection) for just these two lines. The beauty behind these lines lies in the depth of meaning conveyed through the use of ‘goya’ in conjunction with ‘jab’, which means when. Due to the rather enigmatic nature of these two words, the poem can be read to mean any of the below:

You are by my side, when everyone leaves.

When you're with me (on my mind), no-one else is.

You are with me (on my side), when no-one else is.

When no body else is there, it's as if you are with me.

When you are with me it's as though there is no one else left in world

Sources:

Zeeshan, Mohammed. "Is This the Best Couplet Ever Written?" Quora. N.p., July 2015. Web. 7 Mar. 2017.

Avachat, Abhay. "What Is a Ghazal?" What Is a Ghazal? Smriti.com, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

Jha, Pratik. "Cool Words Used In Your Language." Quora. N.p., 18 Feb. 2015. Web. 7 Mar. 2017.

Sheikhar, Sean. "Urdu Poetry." Personal interview. 3 Mar. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

I do not count the hours I spend In wandering by the sea; The forest is my loyal friend, Like God it useth me. In plains that room for shadows make Of skirting hills to lie, Bound in by streams which give and take Their colours from the sky; Or on the mountain-crest sublime, Or down the oaken glade, O what have I to do with time? For this the day was made. Cities of mortals woe begone Fantastic care derides, But in the serious landscape lone Stern benefit abides.

Excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Waldeinsamkeit”

Waldeinsamkeit

vald-eyen-zam-kite ⎜ noun ⎜ German

Literally “Forest Solitude”, Waldeinsamkeit refers to feeling alone, yet particularly connected to nature, especially when alone in the woods. It is often associated with monasticism in religion, and many religious figures strive to embody this feeling, such as the German missionary St. Trudpert, who famously retired in solitude in a small church in the Black Forest.   Inspired by the German word, famed poet Ralph Waldo Emerson composed a 13 verse poem exploring Waldeinsamkeit, the entirety of which can be found here. 

EXAMPLE:

In der deutschen Romantik wird die Waldeinsamkeit zu einem Schlüsselbegriff.

(In German Romanticism, Waldeinsamkeit becomes a key concept.)

Sources:

“15 Untranslatable Words You Wish Existed in English.” Lingholic. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Forvo Team. "Waldeinsamkeit Pronunciation." Forvo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Wordsense Team. "Waldeinsamkeit." Wordsense.eu. Wordsense Dictionary, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

"Waldeinsamkeit- Word of the Week." Germany.info. Auswärtiges Amt, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Komorebi (木漏れ日)

koh-moh-ray-bee⎜ noun ⎜ Japanese

Sunlight that has passed though leaves overhead, giving it a strange quality sometimes described as a curtain of light.

EXAMPLE: 

木漏れ日が射す窓辺  (Komorebi ga sasu madobe)

- HiNative.com

(The Komorebi leaks through the window)

Sources:

“15 Untranslatable Words You Wish Existed in English.” Lingholic. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Forvo Team. "Komorebi Pronunciation." Forvo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Poputepipik. "Komorebi Example Sentence." HiNative.com. Lang-8 Inc., 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Saudade

saʊ-da-də⎜ noun ⎜ Portuguese

The yearning or desire for something (or someone) that one has lost; especially that which has caused seemingly irreparable damage. The concept of Saudade has inspired an entire musical genre, known as Fado, which draws on the word’s inherent melancholy and longing. Fado originated in Lisbon around the 1820s, and currently holds a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. 

Above, renowned Fadista (singer of Fado) Amália Rodrigues performs ‘Fado Portugûes’.

English lyrics can be found here: 

http://lyricstranslate.com/en/fado-portugues-portuguese-fado.html

Sources:

“15 Untranslatable Words You Wish Existed in English.” Lingholic. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Gorlinski, Virginia. "Fado." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 25 Dec. 2011. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

"Saudade." Oxford Living Dictionary. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

[undeniably-untranslatable-blog]

Dépaysement

de-peiz-mɑ̃ ⎜ noun ⎜ French

The feeling of being a foreigner, or ‘displaced’ from your origin. Similar to homesickness, but referring more to the actual emotion resulting from not being in one’s home country, as opposed to a desire to go back.

EXAMPLE: 

L'objectif consiste d'abord à profiter du dépaysement et de la convivialité.

- Le Monde

(The first objective is to take advantage of the  dépaysement and conviviality)

Sources:

"15 Untranslatable Words You Wish Existed in English." Lingholic. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Translation of dépaysement from the Collins French to English Dictionary