Ikigai
noun /ɪˈkiːɡaɪ/ — Your reason for getting out of bed in the morning.
Definition
A Japanese concept meaning 'reason for being' — the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Beyond the definition
One of the most powerful frameworks for purpose, now widely used in career coaching and philosophy. Ikigai doesn't promise happiness — it promises alignment. The pursuit of ikigai is one of the reasons Okinawa has among the longest lifespans in the world.
Origin & history
From Japanese iki 'life' + gai 'value, worth.' Often described as the reason to get up in the morning.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The diagram helped her see her ikigai: she loved writing, was good at it, and the world needed it.
Ikigai is not about finding your passion; it's about finding your intersection.
Without ikigai, the years can pass without the sense that they added to something.
Synonyms
purpose, reason for being, meaning, calling, vocation
Antonyms
purposelessness, aimlessness
Related words
- meraki
- joie-de-vivre
- vocation
Ikigai vs purpose
Purpose is the reason for a specific goal. Ikigai is a deeper Japanese concept representing the intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession that makes life worth living.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Arranging pieces into clear structure
An adult works to arrange complex wooden pieces into a clear, stable structure on a bright, even-lit table.
The methodical pursuit of order represents the intersection of love, skill, and purpose; it is the visual expression of finding one's 'reason for being' through focused, meaningful work.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration