Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ライフスタイル | raifu sutairu | [ɾa̠iɸɯ̟sɨta̠iɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 生活様式 | seikatsu yōshiki | [se̞ːka̠t͡sɨ jo̞ːɕikʲi] (narrow) |
| 生き方 | ikikata | |
| 生活 | seikatsu | [se̞ːka̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
Japanese has several ways to express the concept of a lifestyle. You can use 生活 to refer to the practicalities of daily life, such as one's daily routine or livelihood. The term 生き方 is used when discussing a person's values, philosophy or their fundamental approach to life. For a more technical or academic description of how a specific group or era lives, 生活様式 is used. Finally, the loanword ライフスタイル is often used in modern or commercial contexts, such as discussing consumer trends or interior design.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 生き方 is composed of 生き (living) and 方 (way/method). The term 生活様式 is composed of 生活 (life/living) and 様式 (style/form).
Which one should you use?
The katakana form ライフスタイル is a loanword primarily used in modern, commercial or trendy contexts. In contrast, 生活様式 is a formal, academic or sociological term for a way of life. While 生活 can be used for lifestyle in some contexts, it more commonly refers to daily life or one's livelihood. The term 生き方 differs from these by being philosophical, referring to a person's values and how they approach life rather than their daily habits.
How do you pronounce it?
raifu sutairu
Did you know?
- While 生活 refers to the practicalities of life, the phrase 生活感 describes the 'feeling of daily life' often found in a home. In interior design, having too much 生活感 is often considered a negative thing, implying the space looks cluttered or uncurated.
- The word 生き方 is often used in Japanese literature and cinema to describe a person's moral integrity or the legacy they leave behind. It carries a weight of existential choice that 'lifestyle' lacks in English.
- The term 様式 (youshiki) used in 生活様式 is the same word used to describe formal artistic styles or specific architectural forms.
Examples in context
- 生活習慣病の定義は何ですか？What is the definition of lifestyle disease?This sentence uses 生活 to ask for the definition of a lifestyle disease.Tatoeba #3276590 by tommy_san, translation #7908442 by User83551
- 明日からまた新しい生活が始まる。My new lifestyle starts over again tomorrow.This sentence uses 生活 to describe the start of a new lifestyle.Tatoeba #6850070 by Sonata, translation #12274183 by AlanF_US
- この壁画からは古代人の生活の片鱗をうかがうことができる。We can get a glimpse of the lifestyle of ancient people from this wall painting.This sentence uses 生活 to talk about a glimpse of the lifestyle of ancient people.Tatoeba #219891 by tommy_san, translation #57211 by CM
- 私は健康的な生活を送るよう心がけています。I try to lead a healthy lifestyle.
- 彼女は自然なライフスタイルを楽しんでいます。She enjoys a natural lifestyle.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about moving to the countryside.
- 健太 Kenta田舎で暮らしたいけど、ライフスタイルが変わるよね。Inaka de kurashitai kedo, raifusutairu ga kawaru yo ne.I want to live in the countryside, but my lifestyle will change, right?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだけど、ゆっくりしたライフスタイルは素敵だと思うよ。Sou dakedo, yukkuri shita raifusutairu wa suteki da to omou yo.That's true, but I think a slow lifestyle would be lovely.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵はどういうライフスタイルが理想的だと思う？Himari wa dou iu raifusutairu ga risouteki da to omou?What kind of lifestyle do you think is ideal, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari自然に囲まれたシンプルな生活が理想的かな。Shizen ni kakomareta shinpuru na seikatsu ga risouteki kana.I think a simple life surrounded by nature is ideal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lifestyle” translations and entries ライフスタイル, 生活様式, 生活, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
