wabi-sabi

[wah-bee-sah-bee]

noun

1. a Japanese aesthetic concept that finds beauty and serenity in objects, landscapes, designs, etc., that are simple, imperfect, and impermanent.

   It's the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which delights in the tarnish on an ancient silver bowl and the old uneven cobblestones.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wabi-sabi¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from Japanese

Example Sentences

Craft’s 20th century Modernist revival offers a road map for understanding why his signature wabi-sabi surrealism at Loewe resonated so intensely, and no one channels this history quite like Josef and Anni.

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My dating go-to spots mostly lined the Venice stretch along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, especially Wabi-Sabi or the Tasting Kitchen.

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“We don’t like to repeat ourselves. This will be a wabi-sabi, minimal vibe. We’ll have nature sounds on the speakers more than rock music, and maybe some water fountains.”

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The team looked to Japanese wabi-sabi for the hotel interiors and used reclaimed wood for many of the finishes.

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The thing that has been sitting in my online shopping cart for months: This silver Ann Demeulemeester “Charliese” fingernail ring that sits above your top knuckle and looks like a wabi-sabi acrylic.

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