Category: PhilosophyPart of speech: nounDifficulty: Advanced
間
/ma/Roman
English meaning: Ma (Negative Space / Pause)
Japanese Definition
(日本語)「間」とは、物事の間の意味ある間・空間・間隔の意識を指す日本的概念である。芸術・建築・音楽・会話・武道において、不在や沈黙が存在や音と同様に重要とされ、「間」はその根本にある美学的・哲学的原理である。
English Definition
A Japanese concept referring to meaningful pause, gap, or interval — the awareness of space and time between elements. Ma is central to Japanese art, architecture, music, conversation, and martial arts, where absence and silence are considered as important as presence and sound.
Example
“「間」は日本文化における沈黙と空間の美学的重要性を示す概念です。”
In English: “Ma is a concept showing the aesthetic importance of silence and space in Japanese culture.”
Synonyms
- 空白
- 余白
Antonyms / Opposites
- 充填
- 過密
Literary Heritage
“自己をならふといふは、自己をわするるなり”
/Jiko wo narau to iu wa, jiko wo wasureru nari/
“To study the self is to forget the self.”
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Language information
- Language
- 日本語
- Japanese
- Script
- Kana+Han
- Family
- Japonic
- Speakers
- 125M