Shizentai (自然体 - Being Oneself)

Shizentai

I might not be good at being 'shizentai' (自然体).

Since 'shizen' (自然) means "natural" and 'tai' (体) means "body" or "posture," the literal meaning of 'shizentai' is "natural body" or "natural posture."

Originally, this term was used to mean a basic standing posture/stance in 'jūdō' (柔道 - "the Japanese art of self-defense") or 'kendō' (剣道 - "the Japanese art of fencing").

Later, it came to have the meaning of a natural attitude with no pressure or tension.

This term can be translated into English as "being oneself."

自然体

私は「自然体」でいるのが苦手な人間かもしれません。

「自然」は "natural"、「体」は "body/posture" を意味するので、「自然体」の文字どおりの意味は "natural body/posture" となります。

もともとこの言葉は、柔道や剣道においてからだの力を抜いて立つ基本姿勢を指した言葉でした。

後に、気負いや緊張のない、自然な態度を表すようにもなったというわけです。

英語では "being oneself" のように言うことができます。

• Originally, this term was used to mean a basic standing posture/stance in 'jūdō' (柔道 - "the Japanese art of self-defense") or 'kendō' (剣道 - "the Japanese art of fencing").
• Originally, this term meant/referred to a basic standing posture/stance in 'jūdō' (柔道 - "the Japanese art of self-defense") or 'kendō' (剣道 - "the Japanese art of fencing").

That's really interesting.