How to Say "Atmosphere" in Japanese

雰囲気

fun'iki[ɸɯ̟̃ɰ̃ikʲi]

The Japanese word for atmosphere is 雰囲気 (fun'iki).

雰囲気 refers to the environment, conditions or ambience.

Meaning: environment, conditions, ambience (noun)

Which one should you use?

Kūki (空気) is a common and versatile term for atmosphere used to describe the overall atmosphere of a place, event or situation in a neutral sense.

fun'iki

Someone who cannot sense the social atmosphere is often called KY, an abbreviation of 'kūki yomenai' meaning 'cannot read the air'.
There is a common idiomatic expression, 'kūki o yomu' (to read the air), which means to sense the mood or the unspoken atmosphere of a situation.
Japanese uses the word 雰囲気 to describe the 'aura' of a person, not just the ambience of a room.

このレストランの雰囲気が好き。
I like the atmosphere of this restaurant.
This sentence is useful for expressing your liking for the atmosphere of a specific restaurant using 雰囲気.
Tatoeba #160973 by small_snow, translation #253545 by CK
あのお店、すごく雰囲気がいいの。
That restaurant has a very nice atmosphere.
This sentence is useful for describing a restaurant that has a very nice atmosphere using 雰囲気.
Tatoeba #12023873 by small_snow, translation #49710 by CK
この場所には不思議な雰囲気がある。
This place has a mysterious atmosphere.
This sentence is useful for describing a place that has a mysterious atmosphere using 雰囲気.
Tatoeba #5291 by bunbuku, translation #2105 by CK
この場所の雰囲気はとても静かですね。
The atmosphere of this place is very calm, isn't it?
彼がどんな気分なのか、空気読める？
Can you read the atmosphere and tell what mood he's in?
5 more sentences on Tatoeba

Misaki and Yota are walking through a cozy traditional neighborhood.

陽太 Yota

この街はいい雰囲気だね。
Kono machi wa ii fun'iki da ne.
This town has a nice atmosphere, doesn't it?
美咲 Misaki

本当ね、とても落ち着くわ。
Hontou ne, totemo ochitsuku wa.
True, it is very relaxing.
陽太 Yota

美咲はこういう場所が好き？
Misaki wa kouiu basho ga suki?
Do you like places like this, Misaki?
美咲 Misaki

ええ、大好きよ。
Ee, daisuki yo.
Yes, I love it.

Sources

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