1.
purpose in life; reason for living; something to live for
What gives one's life meaning and makes it worth living. Can be a passion, goal, relationship, or activity that motivates someone to keep going.
孫が私の生き甲斐だ。
My grandchildren are my reason for living.
退職後は生き甲斐を見つけることが大切だ。
After retirement, it's important to find a purpose in life.
音楽は彼にとって生き甲斐だ。
Music is what makes life worth living for him.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 生き甲斐を見つける (to find one's purpose in life)
- 生き甲斐を感じる (to feel a sense of purpose)
- 生き甲斐を失う (to lose one's reason for living)
- 生き甲斐のある人生 (a life with purpose)
CULTURAL NOTE:
生き甲斐 is a well-known Japanese concept that has gained international attention. It's often explained as the intersection of:
- 好きなこと (what you love)
- 得意なこと (what you're good at)
- 必要とされること (what the world needs)
- 稼げること (what you can be paid for)
However, the traditional Japanese meaning is simpler: anything that makes your life feel worth living, whether work, hobby, family, or community.
WRITING NOTE:
Often written as いきがい in hiragana, especially in casual contexts. The loanword "ikigai" is now used in English.
Related Words
Related:
やり甲斐 (sense of fulfillment)