iiyamadude 6 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Anyone able to explain to me the difference between shibui and nigai. I have it down here both as "bitter". Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
moloneb3 0 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 shibui is maybe tangy & nigai is bitter! Looked up in the electronic dictionary. Hope it helps. Is anyone taking the JLPT on December 2nd? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 that's actually a bit of a toughie. I have seen shibui written as "astringent". As moloney said I think tangy might be the best word for it, but Im not quite sold on any translation I have seen for it. Nigai is definitely bitter. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I often hear shibui as an expression of feeling (I think). Like when someone says a bad and really poor joke. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 don't you mean sabui (samui) as in cold?? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Shibui as an expression means dandy. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 "shibui" in slang can also mean something like cool and wicked too Link to post Share on other sites
Oyuki kigan 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Shibui is kinda used when something is pleasantly bitter, and nigai is downright bitter. But like stated before, shibui also has other meanings. It is probably closer to the original meaning of `cool` (Like Miles Davis' Birth of Cool)than 'kakko ii'. It also has connatations of something old as well, and its not always a compliment, it could mean that you look like an ojisan. a 'shibui' voice is something like Tom Waits. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 When shibui is used with iro (color), koe (voice), engi (performance), fuksoo (clothes), it's like simple elegance, refined or tasteful. Negative-wise, it's more difficult to translate. Like Bushpi says, it's like an astringent taste. You can also used it to negatively describe kao (face), henji (answer) and hannoo (reaction). You can also say 'kane ni shibui' which means stingy. Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 wow... a question about a word I know(!)... although tripitaka has beaten me to it with the post above. 'shibui' when used about someone's appearance or clothes means 'cool' in a mature grown up way... like all understated natural tones and textures, not shiny and flashy - 'matt cool' (!?) CB I'm suprised at your rubbish answer! (for someone with japanese 10x better than me!) Link to post Share on other sites
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