Multilingual Observation | How “Kindness” Takes Shape across Languages

[Words of the Heart 2]

Last time, I reflected on the word “healing.”

As I thought about “healing,” a sense of stillness returned to me. When wrapped in that stillness, I felt a strange sense of fulfillment. As I gained a little more emotional space, my eyes naturally turned toward those around me, and I felt a desire to do something for someone—perhaps that movement of the heart is what we call “kindness” (omoiyari).

However, the way “kindness” takes shape varies significantly depending on the language.

Japanese: Using imagination to “sense”

In Japanese, “omoiyari” places the center of gravity on sensing. Before the other person speaks, you read the atmosphere and the pauses to grasp their feelings. It might be closer to a kind of “imagination” than to gentleness. That is precisely why “omoiyari” can sometimes be exhausting. Because you are trying to communicate without exchanging words, you are using your own “power to sense.” It is one thing when it concerns yourself, but trying to figure out how someone else feels takes an enormous amount of energy. Therefore, “omoiyari” actually has a side that can be quite tiring.

French: The gentleness of “maintaining distance”

In French, words closer to “omoiyari” might be “empathie” (empathy) or “bienveillance” (benevolence). Both respect the other person, but there is a “distance” involved. It is a form of gentleness where you stay close to someone without intruding too deeply into their emotions, while maintaining your own boundaries.

French “gentleness” is less about emotion and more about attitude.Acknowledging the other person as an individual is what constitutes kindness.

Arabic: Compassion “bestowed”

In Arabic, a word close to “omoiyari” might be رَحْمَة (raḥma). That said, I feel the meaning is quite different. This is because this word is also close to the meaning of “compassion.” The idea that people are kind to others not because they themselves are kind, but because
they have been bestowed that compassion by God—that worldview lies at the root.

In other words,“kindness” is not something people create, but something they are “bestowed”.
Therefore, showing kindness also connects to the expression of one’s faith and gratitude.

The shape of “kindness” changes with the language

In Japanese, it is the imagination to sense others; in French, the gentleness of maintaining distance; in Arabic, the compassion bestowed by God. The “kindness” depicted by each language reflects
how we manage the distance between people. Whether the stillness born from healing turns inward or outward—the diversity of the word “kindness” is revealed in the difference of where that stillness is directed.

My voice, too, has gradually returned.
Perhaps the moment has come for both “healing” and “kindness” to transform from stillness into sound.

Finally, just a small question for you who have read this.
What kind of “kindness” did you receive today?

*This continues to [Words of Relationship]. Please take a look if you have time.

* Multilingual Observation Table of Contents ↓