Shěnměi píláo

(Chinese) Aesthetically fatigued; exposure to so much beauty that one ceases to really see it or appreciate it.

Illustration by Raissa Pardini

Universally relatable words from languages around the world — with no direct equivalents.

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Our Contributors

Raissa Pardini Illustrator

Raissa Pardini is an Italian-born multidisciplinary designer based in Glasgow, UK. She has worked for brands like Vans, Dr. Martens, and Fred Perry.

More Undefinables

Tampo

(Filipino) A slang term for withdrawing affection from a person when one’s feelings have been hurt — a nonconfrontational and nonverbal form of receding to signify upset.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton

Koi No Yokan

(Japanese) The feeling of meeting someone and knowing that it’s inevitable that you will fall in love with them.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton

(Finnish) Around February, when the sun returns for short visits above the horizon again, it melts the top of the snow just enough to make it hard. When the snow is solid enough to walk on top of a meter of it without falling in, it is hankiainen.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton

Qarrtsiluni

(Inuit) Sitting together in the darkness, waiting for something to happen or to burst forth, so to speak; the anticipatory quiet before a momentous happening.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton

Tatendrang

(German) Literally “action urge,” this describes the sensation you feel when you’re keen to get things done, clear your to-do list, or take up new projects. It’s ideal for implementing within your business ethos.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton

Attaccabottoni

(Italian) Literally “attach buttons,” this is a chatty person who latches onto you to share long, meaningless stories in endless detail about their life.

Illustration by Raissa Pardini

Chindōgu

(Japanese) A prank originating in Japan, done by a person inventing seemingly ingenious everyday gadgets that seem like a perfect solution to a particular problem, though are in fact nothing more than useless gags.

Illustration by Raissa Pardini

Brabbag

(Manx Gaelic) The pleasurable act of warming the back of one’s legs in front of the fire.

Illustration by Raissa Pardini

Antsafa

(Malagasy) Inquiries about things of which one is fully cognizant beforehand.

Illustration by Shivani Parasnis

Þetta reddast

(Icelandic) An unofficial motto that loosely translates to “everything will fall into place as it should.”

Illustration by Raissa Pardini

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Notes From

At the Edge of the Masai Mara

A writer confronts his own mortality while retracing the footsteps of an iconic artist across Kenya.

words and photography by chris wallace

Undefinables

Tampo

(Filipino) A slang term for withdrawing affection from a person when one’s feelings have been hurt — a nonconfrontational and nonverbal form of receding to signify upset.

Illustration by Aaron Lowell Denton