[Editor's Note: This article by Joji Sawa is a fascinating beginning to understand the concept of "KI" as it is understood and used in the Japanese language. Photos courtesy of Hombu Dojo.] The Many Meanings of Ki in Japanese Conversation Ki is a word that everyone associated with Aikido has heard of. It is most often translated as "spirit" or "energy". However, Ki is not only a concept associated with Aikido or the martial arts. The concept of Ki can have many meanings in Japanese language and culture. Ki is used conversationally everyday in Japan in ways you might not imagine. It is utilized in hundreds of common idioms and phrases. You’ll find it in newspaper headlines, novels, jokes, and on TV. It can be heard in virtually any conversation in Japanese. In fact, if you decided to walk around Tokyo and listen in on peoples' conversations, you’d hear Ki mentioned thousands of times and almost everywhere, on the subway, in restaurants, department stores, even in the weather reports. Ki is frequently used when speaking of health, emotions, intentions, opinions, and in human relations in general. The dictionary contains dozens of meanings for Ki ranging from spirit to temperament, awareness to concern, and even the atmosphere. The following examples illustrate how the character for "KI", combined with other characters, is used in many words and phrases in the Japanese daily conversation. TENKI ("sky's KI") means weather. TEN means sky. KIATSU ("KI pressure") means atmospheric pressure. (ATSU means pressure). YOKI ("sunny or positive KI") means "sunshine", "jolly" or "cheerful".. YO also means "YANG". INKI ("shadow KI or negative KI") means "gloomy", "melancholy" or "cheerless". IN also means "YIN". GENKI ("root KI") means "vigor", "energy", "vitality" or "spirit". GENKI is a word often used in Japanese conversation. For example, one common phrase for "how are you" in Japanese is "GENKI?" or "GENKI desuka?" Its literal translation could be "Are you spirited?" What happens when you lose KI? We have an exact phrase for that: "KI wo ushinau". It means to "loose consciousness" or "faint away". Some Japanese expressions refer to the length of KI. When we say "KI ga mijikai", for example ("KI is short"), it means "short-tempered" or "impatient". On the contrary, "KI ga nagai" ("KI is long") means "patient". Other expressions refer to the size of KI. When we say "KI ga okii" ("KI is big"), it means "generous" or "large-hearted". On the other hand, "KI ga chiisai" ("KI is small") means "timid" or "fainthearted". There are many more words and phrases that use KI. Some of them are: "KI wo kubaru" ("distribute KI") means "pay attention" or "be watchful". "KI ga omoi" ("KI is heavy") means "feel down" or "depressed". "KI wo hikishimeru" ("tighten up KI") means "brace oneself" or "pull oneself together". "KI ga susumanai" ("KI doesn't go forward" or "KI doesn't come along") means "not in the mood". "KI wo rakunisuru" ("make KI at ease") means "relax". "KI ga chiru" ("KI falls") means "One's attention is distracted" As you can see, Ki has a wide variety of meanings in Japanese culture. Hopefully, this article will be useful in gaining a broader understanding of the concept of Ki and be helpful in placing this often elusive concept in perspective as we apply it to our Aikido training.