Words are mere representations of the general narrative of a particular culture. A culture has a word for a concept, exactly because they feel the need to define the idea–in all its precision. They feel the need to confine one concept in one word. While it is easy to define concrete ideas such as sun, sword, symbols there are abstract concepts which need to be defined in several words. While some abstract words are easier to define, such as pain, precision, irregularity, there are others which have to be defined in a phrase, or a group of words.

It is interesting to note what concepts particular cultures choose to define. The Filipino culture has many one word direct translations for a lot of rice concepts: bahaw, tutong, sinangag, kanin, bigas. All of which are called RICE in the English language, save for adjective or qualifiers to define what type of rice they are: day-old rice, burnt rice, fried rice, cooked rice, and uncooked rice.

Here are a few interesting foreign words. (My favorites actually) All of which are: one word for a concept which if defined in the English language is usually defined in two or more words. The definition is not as precise, considering its code-switch from that culture’s language and representation to English.

• Hitomebore – Japanese. “falling in love with someone at first glance“. (Imagine the preciseness of this: at first glance, a fleeting second. It is not directly similar to falling in love at first sight, because sight denotes taking in of the vision longer than a glance.)
• Schadenfreude – German. “finding delight at the suffering of another person.” (it is interesting to note why the Germans have a word for this kind of ill-wishing towards others.)
• Saudade - Portuguese.  “intense longing for someone who will never return.” (Saudade is directed towards lost lovers, or missing people. Thecontemplation of death is imminent, but the recognition is not there, therefore saudade exists.)
• Kilig – Filipino. “A certain rush of excitement and bliss usually experienced after something good happens or at the anticipation of something good.” (Usually pertains to love and relationships. It is similar to being smitten, except kilig contemplates a temporary state of happiness, perhaps fleeting even.)
• Sisu - Finnish. “The ability to sustain courage in the face of adversity.” (Similar to stoic toughness, sisu is a pervasive FInish word that most products in Finland contain the name.)
• Stam – Hebrew. “Just because. Usually denoting amused frustration.” (Why did it have to rain today when I didn’t bring my umbrella? Stam.)
• Lagom – Swedish. “when something is done exactly right” (Similar to cooking pasta al dente, something is considered lagom when there is nothing more which begs to be done to something because it is done exactly right, the way it should be done)
• Huggelig – Danish. “When something feels warm and comfortable, small and cozy and there is a feeling of ease and happiness and contentment.” (While the word “cozy” is pretty similar to the idea, it is not as precise as this. The word’s additional feature: contentment assumes general happiness which is not attached to the idea of being cozy. Similar to a rainy day spent indoors, with someone you love drinking hot chocolate, eating champorado, cuddling and talking. huggelig.  )
• Mokita – New Guinean. “when a group of people are all together and fhey are all thinking of the same thing, but nobody is saying it.” (this one has to be a real favorite. Imagine all the moments we have encountered mokita in our lives! It is not when someone thinks of the same thing. It has to be a group of people who agrees-without the need for words about a particular concept. It defines a cultural acknowledgement, an agreement to understanding.)

Forgive the extremely geeky discussion of words, I was a language and literature major back in college, and this is what I do for fun. Plus, seeing as I am in the bussiness of words, might as well!

Some reference here: http://ask.metafilter.com/10490/What-concepts-do-not-exist-in-the-English-language