神は素晴らしい
Kami wa subarashii
The English phrase "God is good" is translated into Japanese as 神は素晴らしい (Kami wa subarashii).
This phrase is an expression of praise or gratitude for the benevolence and greatness of God. While the English word "good" might suggest using the Japanese word ii, it is more natural to use subarashii when expressing praise for the greatness of a divine being.
How do you pronounce it?
Kami wa subarashii
Did you know?
- In Japan, the word kami can refer to many things, including spirits, nature, or even an ancestor, rather than just a single monotheistic God.
- In Japanese, adding the honorific suffix -sama to kami to make kami-sama is so standard that using just kami can sometimes feel overly blunt or even slightly irreverent in a religious setting.
- In Japanese music and poetry, the concept of divine goodness is often tied to the word megumi, which means 'grace' or 'blessing', rather than just the quality of being 'good'.
Examples in context
- 神は素晴らしい。Kami wa subarashii.God is wonderful.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are talking about a miracle in their lives.
- 陽太 Yota陽太：すべてうまくいきましたね。Yōta: Subete umaku ikimashita ne.Everything went well, didn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari陽葵：はい、神は素晴らしいです。Himari: Hai, kami wa subarashii desu.Yes, God is good.
- 陽太 Yota陽太：本当に助かりました。Yōta: Hontō ni tasukarimashita.We were really helped.
- 陽葵 Himari陽葵：心から感謝しましょう。Himari: Kokoro kara kansha shimashō.Let's give thanks from our hearts.
