Get Well Wishes
Here I have collected gift ideas for that special person in your life that is recovering. I have tried to include a variety of well-wishes that ranges from a gentle hug and comfort to wishes for a more aggressive approach to recovery.
Determination
Determination in Japanese is 決意 which is read ketsui.
The Japanese word ketsui meaning "Determination" and "Decision" is composed of the kanji 決 (read ketsu) meaning "decide; fix; appoint" and 意 (read i) meaning "idea; mind; heart".
ketsui is used both as a noun and a verb and is more along the lines of a "forceful decision" or a decision coming from one's mind as opposed to Determination (kesshin) which is more of a decision made from the heart. Though the two words are synonyms and are often used interchangeably.
Effort
Effort in Japanese is 努力 which is read doryoku.
This art is a motivational reminder to always demand the very best of oneself and to always give one's best effort.
The Japanese word doryoku means "Effort" or "Exertion" and is composed of the kanji 努 (read do) meaning "as much as possible, toil" and 力 (read ryoku) meaning "power; strength; exertion."
Doryoku is used, especially in the Martial Arts, to mean giving one's very best effort.
Fighting Spirit
Fighting Spirit in Japanese is 闘魂 which is read toukon.
The Japanese word toukon meaning "Fighting Spirit" is composed of the kanji 闘 (read tou) meaning "fight" and 魂 (read kon) meaning "spirit; soul". Fighting Spirit (toukon) is used in martial arts to describe a person that is a fighter by nature. It is also used to describe one's will to fight the battles of life such as the will to fight cancer or to take on life's myriad challenges.
Health
Health in Japanese is 健康 which is read kenkou.
This art makes a beautiful and inspirational reminder that good health is a treasure and should never be taken for granted. A perfect gift for the doctor or nurse in your life.
The Japanese word kenkou means "Health" and is composed of the kanji 健 (read ken) meaning "healthy; health; strength; persistence" and 康 (read kou) meaning "ease; comfort; peaceful".
Inner Strength
Inner Strength in Japanese is 気力 which is read kiryoku.
This motivational work of art is the perfect gift for a beautiful reminder of "Inner Strength" and to be strong now.
The Japanese word kiryoku means "Inner Strength; Willpower" and is composed of the kanji 気力 (read ki) meaning "spirit; inner energy" and 力 (read ryoku) meaning "strength; power." Notice that there are two ways to write the kanji ki: 気 is the newer form of 氣 however both forms are commonly seen.
Invictus
Invictus in Japanese is 不屈 which is read fukutsu.
This art makes the perfect gift for any fan of the movie "Invictus" or for the person on your list that does not give up despite the odds.
The Japanese word fukutsu meaning "Invictus" is composed of the kanji 不 (read fu) meaning "not" and 屈 (read kutsu) meaning "yield, bend, flinch, submit". Invictus is Latin for "indomitable" and is also the name of a 2009 movie starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela about the South African win of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Life
Life in Japanese is 人生 which is read jinsei.
The Japanese word jinsei meaning "Life" is composed of the kanji 人 (read jin) meaning "person" and 生 (read sei) meaning "life; birth".
Japanese has a few words for "Life". jinsei refers to one's life and is specific. For example it is used when saying "My life has been good". It is not used in the abstract so one would not use jinsei in things like "gamble with one's life", "searching for life on mars" or "life insurance".
Miraculous Comeback
Miraculous Comeback in Japanese is 起死回生 which is read kishikaisei.
This beautiful art makes an excellent gift as a reminder of a great comeback victory or to remind one that where there is a will there is still a way.
The four-character idiom kishikaisei meaning "Miraculous Comeback" is composed of the kanji 起 (read ki) meaning "wake up, rouse", 死 (read shi) meaning "death", 回 (read kai) meaning "return", and 生 (read sei) meaning "life". The phrase kishikaisei then literally means "Wake from death, return to life" and is used in the sense of a miraculous comeback - like a game winning home run - or any desparate situation where all hope seems lost but one still manages a miraculous success.
Never Give Up
Never Give Up in Japanese is 決して諦めない which is read kesshite akiramenai.
The Japanese phrase kesshite akiramenai is composed of the word 決して (read kesshite) which in this case means "absolutely; decidedly" and the verb 諦めない (read akiramenai) which is the negative of 諦める (read akirameru) meaning to "Give Up" - so the direct translation is "absolutely do not give up".
No Pain, No Gain
No Pain, No Gain in Japanese is 苦は楽の種 which is read ku wa raku no tane.
The Japanese phrase ku wa raku no tane meaning "No Pain, No Gain" is composed of the word 苦 (read ku) meaning "pain", the grammatical element は (read wa) indicating the previous words is the subject, 楽 (read raku) meaning "ease, comfort", the grammatical possessive element の (read no) and 種 (read tane) meaning "seed". A literal translation is "pain is the seed of comfort".
Recovery
Recovery in Japanese is 再起 which is read saiki.
This beautiful work of art is the perfect gift for someone recovering or on the mends. saiki is an encouraging and thoughtful gift.
The Japanese word saiki means "Recovery" and also translates as "comeback (as in making a comeback from a setback or injury) and is composed of the kanji 再 (read sai) meaning "again" and 起 (read ki) meaning "to get up".
Strength
Strength in Japanese is 強力 which is read kyouryoku.
The Japanese word kyouryoku means "Strength" and also translates as "strong; powerful" and is composed of the kanji 強 (read kyou) meaning "strong; powerful" and 力 (read ryoku) meaning "strong; powerful". kyouryoku can mean either physical or mental strength and can be used in the sense of "you need to be strong to make it in this world".
Survivor
Survivor in Japanese is 生存者 which is read seizonsha.
This beautiful work of art is a positive and inspiring gift for anyone getting well or recovering.
The Japanese word seizonsha is composed of the word 生存 (read seizon) meaning "to exist; to survive; to live" and the kanji 者 (read sha) meaning "person". This design is a symbol of what we have accomplished to get to this point, and a reminder that with life there is always hope.
The Ground Becomes Firm After Rain
The Ground Becomes Firm After Rain in Japanese is 雨降って地固まる which is read ame futte ji katamaru.
The Japanese proverb "ame futte ji katamaru" meaning "adversity builds character" literally translates as "The ground becomes firm after rain".
Some sources, though we strongly disagree, try and equate this saying to "Calm after a Storm" or "An argument clears away bad feelings between people" though we disagree with these comparisons.
Try and You Will Succeed
Try and You Will Succeed in Japanese is 為せば成る which is read naseba naru.
This beautiful art encourages initiative making naseba naru a positive and inspirational gift for that person in your life that could use a little reminding.
The Japanese phrase naseba naru meaning "Try and You Will Succeed" is a commonly used inspirational phrase in Japan. naseba naru reminds us that to accomplish something we must first try. Other translations include "if you have a mind to do something, you can do it" and, more directly, "if you try, it will become".
What Does Not Kill Me, Makes Me Stronger
What Does Not Kill Me, Makes Me Stronger in Japanese is 私を殺さないものは私を強くする which is read watashi wo korosanai mono wa watashi wo tsuyoku suru.
The Japanese phrase watashi wo korosanai mono wa watashi wo tsuyoku suru means What Does Not Kill Me, Makes Me Stronger and is composed of the words 私 (read watashi) meaning "I; Me", 殺す (read korosu) meaning "to kill" (which is conjugated to korosanai meaning "to not kill") and 強い (read tsuyoi) meaning "strong" (which is conjugated to tsuyoku suru meaning "to make strong").