What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 人生 (jinsei), which specifically refers to a person's life journey or lifespan rather than the biological state of being alive and the verb 楽しむ (tanoshimu), which means to enjoy or find pleasure in something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite request or a well-wish, you can use 人生を楽しんでください. In informal settings, you can say 人生を楽しんでね to offer encouragement or simply 楽しんでね to say "Enjoy!" The expression 人生を謳歌してください is a formal way to say "Please live a life of abundance and enjoyment".
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the phrase into a friendly suggestion or a command to "enjoy life", you can use the te-form: 人生を楽しんで. Adding ください to the te-form creates the polite version 人生を楽しんでください. You can also use the volitional form 人生を楽しもう to say "Let's enjoy life". Another way to express this sentiment is 楽しい人生をお過ごしください！
How do you pronounce it?
jinsei o tanoshimu
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, saying 楽しんでね (tanoshinde ne) is common when someone is leaving for a trip or event, but saying 人生を楽しんで (jinsei o tanoshinde) can sound unexpectedly heavy or like a final farewell.
- Japanese has a unique concept called 生き甲斐 (ikigai), which refers to the 'reason for getting out of bed in the morning'. While 人生を楽しむ is the act of enjoying life, 生き甲斐 is the specific purpose that makes that enjoyment possible.
- The formal version 謳歌する (ouka suru) literally means 'to sing and enjoy'. It suggests that one is not just happy but is actively celebrating their life like a song.
Examples in context
- 新しい人生を楽しんでくださいEnjoy your new life
- 人生を楽しむことが大切です。Jinsei o tanoshimu koto ga taisetsu desu.It is important to enjoy life.
- もっと人生を楽しむべきだよ。Motto jinsei o tanoshimu beki da yo.You should enjoy life more.
- 彼女は人生を楽しむ天才だ。Kanojo wa jinsei o tanoshimu tensai da.She is a genius at enjoying life.
Example conversation
A cafe where two friends are talking about their future.
- 大翔 Hiroto仕事もいいけど、人生を楽しむことも大切だよ。Shigoto mo ii kedo, jinsei o tanoshimu koto mo taisetsu da yo.Work is fine, but it's also important to enjoy life.
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね、大翔くんの言う通りだね。Sou da ne, Hiroto-kun no iu toori da ne.That's true, you're right, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hiroto週末はもっと自由に過ごそう。Shuumatsu wa motto jiyuu ni sugosou.Let's spend our weekends more freely.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、そうするよ！Un, sou suru yo!Yeah, I will!
