In the world of Japanese language education, there is a famous saying:

“English is a language of ‘Doing’ (Suru), while Japanese is a language of ‘Becoming’ (Naru).”

At first glance, this might seem like a simple grammatical rule. However, it connects deeply to a matter of the heart—how we perceive and experience the world around us every single day.

1. The World of “Doing” (English): Where You Are the Main Character

In English, human beings are typically placed at the center of the universe as the active subject. The language favors expressions where you control your surroundings with your own volition.

For instance, when a team arrives at a conclusion in a business setting, English speakers will naturally say:

“We reached this decision.” It carries a linear, active sense of taking action and grasping the result—a beautiful mindset of “Doing.”

2. The World of “Becoming” (Japanese): Surrendering to the Natural Flow

On the other hand, when expressing the exact same situation in Japanese, we unconsciously say:

“Kouiu kettei ni narimashita.” (It has become this decision.)

In this phrasing, the strong presence of “I” or “We” softly disappears into the background. Instead, the surrounding circumstances, flowing time, and human relationships (our high-context environment) gently overlap, allowing the result to naturally “become” on its own.

Even when I came down with sudden summer fatigue the other day, the contrast was clear. In English, one might say, “The heat made me sick,” clearly defining cause and effect. In Japanese, however, we simply say, “Natsubate ni natta“ (I became summer-fatigued).

There is a beautiful nuance of acceptance in this—as if my body is softly dissolving into the grand, shifting seasons, rather than fighting against them.

3. The Richness of “Becoming”: Allowing “Ma” to Soften Our Lives

Living a life where you must constantly “Do” and control everything can be powerful and inspiring, but it can also leave you feeling exhausted.

The pressure to always “Do” chores perfectly, or to always “Do” business flawlessly…

If you are feeling a bit suffocated by that constant pressure today, why not surrender yourself to the gentle embrace of the Japanese “Naru” (Becoming)?

“Today simply became this kind of day, and that is completely fine.” “The flow of the day naturally allowed me to rely on my family’s kindness, so I will just stay in bed.”

Instead of forcing yourself to control every single outcome, try accepting the natural course of things and the comforting atmosphere (Ibasho) right in front of you. The Japanese language inherently holds this beautiful aesthetics of Ma (margin/space).

While holding onto the strength of “Doing” to carve out our own paths, let us also cherish the flexible grace of “Becoming.” May we all continue to spin comforting words in our daily lives.

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