Last November, I posted an article about the word 縁 (en), a word dear to Japanese people’s connection to sensitivity and philosophy, and how it was used in daily conversations. (You can see it here.)
Today, I would like to go over two expressions that are related to or use 縁 (en).
一期一会 Ichigo Ichie
The Japanese expression “Ichigo Ichie” is famous overseas too, and it’s one of the favorite yoji jukugo (四字熟語 = a 4 kanji word) of the Japanese. It means literally “one lifetime, one encounter.” It describes a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, a miraculous type of en. The idea is that we should cherish encounters as if they happened just once. This word originally comes from tea ceremony, and teaches the hosts to treat their guests with great hospitality spirit, as a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. In a way, it’s similar to the expression “これも何かのご縁ですから” (koremo nanika no goen desukara) that I mentioned in my former post.
腐れ縁 Kusareen
This means “rotten relationship” which can also be described as undesirable but inseparable by fate. It can be used typically for couples who keep breaking up and getting back together, or friends who can’t cut ties because they keep reconnecting by chance or destiny. It’s often used with humor, like in a reference to “bad soulmate.”
Do you have a kusareen too?