This word confusion wabi-sabi vs wasabi is my own curiosity. In a story I was reading, two of the characters were discussing wabi-sabi, and my mind leapt to wasabi.
And feeling that hunger for some sashimi!
Being me, I immediately “realized” they had misspelled it. Uh-huh. When I thought for a whole moment, I remembered that wabi-sabi was its own word. More duh. Well, now I was curious.
Wabi-sabi is more of a philosophical approach to life, accepting the negatives and embracing the imperfection of, e.g., a rust-coated wall, a chipped bowl, an imperfect flower, etc.
Do be aware that wabi-sabi is not in the dictionary, so it should always be italicized.
Wasabi is an edible hot mustard-like condiment that is typically served with sushi and sashimi here in America.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Wabi-sabi | Wasabi |
|---|---|
 — |
 — |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun
Plural: wabi-sabi |
Noun
Plural: wasabi |
| Noun: A comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection |
Noun: A very pungent green Japanese condiment made from the root of the herb Wasabia japonica of the mustard family A similarly pungent condiment made from a mixture of horseradish, mustard, green food coloring, and other ingredients |
| Examples: | |
| Noun: Wabi-sabi is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”. Live life through your senses and better engage in life as it happens by incorporating wabi-sabi into daily life. Wabi-sabi helps connect one to our real world and escape potentially stressful distractions. |
Noun: I do like wasabi with my sashimi. “The first two dishes — crab tostada with spicy ginger and salmon sashimi flatbread with wasabi sour cream — were at our table within about three minutes” (Wilkinson). “You’re almost in high school; you still think that a little wasabi will kill you?” (Moon). |
| History of the Word: | |
| Initially, the word wabi had a negative meaning conveying pessimism and mourning, the feeling of sadness and anxiousness from a wish unfulfilled.
The meaning changed in the 16th century, shifting to a more positive connotation of acceptance in plans going awry. Experiences such as disappointment or poverty could be met with calm. |
Early 20th century from the Japanese. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Wabi-sabi versus Wasabi
Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.
Aoki-Alcerro, Sayaka. “Japanese Culture: The Actual Meaning of Wabi-Sabi.” Nakamoto Forestry. 1 Oct 2021. Accessed 13 Sept 2024. <https://nakamotoforestry.com/japanese-culture-the-actual-meaning-of-wabi-sabi/>. Article.
Apple Dictionary.com
The Free Dictionary: wasabi
Moon, Sarah. Sparrow. Arthur A. Levine Books , 2017. <https://amzn.to/4ehLSwd>. Ebook.
“Wabi-sabi.” The Free Dictionary. n.d. Accessed 13 Sept 2024. <https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Wabi-sabi>. Article.
Wilkinson, Damon. “The Peter Street Kitchen Offers a Split Menu with Both Mexican and Japanese Dishes Served Side by Side . . . But Does It work?” Manchester Evening News. The Free Library. 8 Feb 2019. Accessed 13 Sept 2024. <https://www.thefreelibrary.com/is+double+trouble%3F+THE+PETER+STREET+KITCHEN+OFFERS+A+SPLIT+MENU+WITH…-a0573048315>. Article.
Pinterest Photo Credits
Black Raku Tea Bowl, Amadera, by Chris 73 is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. Wasabi Blob by Quinn Dombrowski is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Flickr.
