Definition of "Genki"
SkyeFire
This is going to sound silly, but what the heck, it's a slow day. I need
some help on the meaning of "Genki." Somewhere along the line, I got the
impression that it was a tag for plain, ordinary, girl/boy-next-door, that kind
of thing. But recently I've come across raam posts and magazine articles that
use the word in a very different way, where it seemed intended to mean hyper,
wild, ADHD-child-on-sugar-overdose, *that* kind of thing.
So, can anybody who knows a bit about Japanese clear this up for me? And,
for that matter, if "Genki" doesn't mean what I originally thought it was, *is*
there a word that fills that definition?
Derek Janssen
It's used for anything between "fine" and "energetic/perky", but
technically, split the difference and call it "healthy".
Derek Janssen
dja...@ultranet.com
GregoryD
"SkyeFire" <skye...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020321190333...@mb-cd.aol.com...
I was under the impression that genki meant "well."
GregoryD
Frank Raymond Michaels
The closest English word I can think of is "wholesome" -- it runs the
specturm from "healthy" to "cheerful and energetic".
-----
FRM
Frank Raymond Michaels
Japanese/English translator server on the web
<http://linear.mv.com/cgi-bin/j-e/dict>
gives these:
"health(y); robust; vigor; energy; vitality; vim; stamina; spirit;
courage; pep"
----
FRM
Jesse Douglas
skye...@aol.com (SkyeFire) wrote:
According to EDICT, "genki" means
"health(y)/robust/vigor/energy/vitality/vim/stamina/spirit/courage/pep."
--
Jesse Douglas <tdou...@erols.com>
MinakoCode(1.0.1) SV:4 X:** O:d-o++ah+
"How Steve Jobs eats a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: 'I like to yell at it
first, until it starts crying'" --As the Apple Turns <appleturns.com>
Doug Jacobs
There is no single English translation for "genki".
Genki basically means "healthy", however, it can also be used to mean perky,
bouncy, horny, happy, cheerful, full of vim & vigor, energetic, and a whole
bunch of other things, based on context.
Cenic
How are you doing??
genki
I am fine. in good health. in good spirits... whatever.
"SkyeFire" <skye...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020321190333...@mb-cd.aol.com...
>
Fish Eye no Miko
news:10167625...@globe.atl2.mindspring.net...
> O genki desu ka ?
> How are you doing??
> genki
> I am fine. in good health. in good spirits... whatever.
I usually hear "daijoubu" used were you put "genki"
Catherine Johnson.
--
dis "able" to reply
"This is Precious Roy, and you kids better pay for that lap dance!"
_Precious Roy, _Sifl & Olly_.
Derek Janssen
>
> "Cenic" <cenic-[maps]-@otakuedge-[maps]-.com> wrote in message
> news:10167625...@globe.atl2.mindspring.net...
>
> > O genki desu ka ?
> > How are you doing??
> > genki
> > I am fine. in good health. in good spirits... whatever.
>
> I usually hear "daijoubu" used were you put "genki"
No, it's correct--
"Daijoubu" tends to be "fine"="unhurt".
Derek Janssen
dja...@ultranet.com
Galen Musbach
Electric, energetic, lively; bright eyed and bushy tailed;
never say die; More Power.
-Galen
>
Led Mirage
Genki basically means "healthy" (almost leterally, really). So if you
use it to describe a person, to say the least, that person is
energetic. Now as a bonus question, try getting what "moe" means.
Andy00
I've heard it means inhumanly cute.
"I have been a word in a book."
The Song of Taliesin
"If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that
fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and
heartbeats."
Richard Bach -- "Illusions"
Bill Steele
<dja...@ultranet.com> wrote:
> It's used for anything between "fine" and "energetic/perky", but
> technically, split the difference and call it "healthy".
The kanji literally read "source of the spirit," which would suggest the
basic meaning is "health," unqualified as good or bad. But as in all
languages, words change in meaning with time, and the usage seems to be
"healthy." By extension it could be applied to a "healthy relationship."
Fish Eye no Miko
news:3C9ACAA3...@ultranet.com...
You're right about the question; I was mistaken. However, I have heard
people saying "Daijoubu" when answering a general "How are you feeling"
questions.
Catherine Johnson.
--
dis "able" to reply
"Harry McDougall. Proof that sanity may cost you and arm and/or a leg."
-Ben Wick, on my theory that Harry McDougall from _Outlaw Star_ gets
saner the more body parts he loses.
Doug Jacobs
> "Cenic" <cenic-[maps]-@otakuedge-[maps]-.com> wrote in message
> news:10167625...@globe.atl2.mindspring.net...
>> O genki desu ka ?
>> How are you doing??
>> genki
>> I am fine. in good health. in good spirits... whatever.
> I usually hear "daijoubu" used were you put "genki"
Compare "I'm fine/OK" to "I'm doing great"
Remember in many cases there isn't going to be a single 1-to-1 mapping
between words - especially with dialog, where use of language helps define
your personality.
Doug Jacobs
>>Now as a bonus question, try getting what "moe" means.
> I've heard it means inhumanly cute.
But it could also mean "burnable".
Or did he misspell "Mou!", (as in "Mattaku") and could mean
"Oh, come on!" "Quit it!" or some other generic "your getting on my nerves"
type noise.
Derek Janssen
I thought he'd misspelled "hoe", meaning "all-purpose interjective for
card-capturing girls".
Derek Janssen
dja...@ultranet.com
Chris Mattern
> energetic. Now as a bonus question, try getting what "moe" means.
"Partner of Larry and Curly"?
Chris Mattern
Christopher Fiore
Literally, 'genki' (actually 'genki na') means
"healthy/robust/energetic" as in the greeting 'O-genki desu ka?' ('Are you
well?')
Scott Schimmel
> This is going to sound silly, but what the heck, it's a slow day. I need
>some help on the meaning of "Genki." Somewhere along the line, I got the
>impression that it was a tag for plain, ordinary, girl/boy-next-door, that kind
> So, can anybody who knows a bit about Japanese clear this up for me?
Looks like you've got that answered pretty clearly.
>for that matter, if "Genki" doesn't mean what I originally thought it was, *is*
>there a word that fills that definition?
This, on the other hand...
The adjective "futsuu" is often used in that sense.
Scott Schimmel * Ex ignorantia ad sapientium;
http://schimmel.sandwich.net * ex luce ad tenebras.
"You really aren't normal, are you?" - Miki Koishikawa