場の空気
Meaning: The atmosphere or vibe of a place; the unspoken mood that everyone is expected to read and respect.
場の空気 refers to the collective emotional temperature of a social situation. Reading it correctly (空気を読む) is a crucial social skill, while failing to (KY, 空気読めない) is a notable social failing. The concept governs when to speak up, when to stay quiet, when to laugh, and when to be serious — all without explicit instruction.
Examples
- 場の空気が重くて誰も発言できなかった。 现场气氛太沉重了,谁都不敢发言。El ambiente era tan tenso que nadie se atrevía a hablar.분위기가 무거워서 아무도 발언할 수 없었어.
- 彼が来ると場の空気が一気に明るくなるんだよね。 他一来气氛一下子就变得轻松了。Cuando él llega, el ambiente del lugar se anima al instante.그가 오면 그 자리 분위기가 한순간에 밝아져.
- 場の空気を壊すようなこと言わないでよ。 别说破坏气氛的话好吗。No digas nada que estropee el ambiente.분위기 깨는 말 하지 마.
Pronunciation
/ba no kɯː.ki/
Usage Guide
Context: social situations, workplace, gatherings, commentary on social dynamics
Tone: observational, social-awareness
✓ Do Say
- 場の空気を読んで発言しないとね (You need to read the room before speaking up)得先看看气氛再说话啊(发言之前要先读一下现场气氛)場の空気を読んで発言しないとね (Hay que leer el ambiente antes de hablar)場の空気を読んで発言しないとね (분위기를 읽고 발언해야지)
- 場の空気が微妙だったから早めに帰った (The vibe was off so I left early)当时气氛有点微妙,我就先走了(感觉现场气氛不太对,所以提前离开了)場の空気が微妙だったから早めに帰った (El ambiente estaba raro, así que me fui pronto)場の空気が微妙だったから早めに帰った (분위기가 미묘해서 일찍 나왔어)
✗ Don't Say
- 「場の空気が悪いのはお前のせい」と名指しするのは空気をさらに悪くする (Pointing at someone and saying 'you ruined the mood' makes the atmosphere even worse)当众指着某人说「气氛都被你搞坏了」只会让气氛更糟「場の空気が悪いのはお前のせい」と名指しするのは空気をさらに悪くする (Señalar a alguien y decirle «tú has estropeado el ambiente» lo empeora aún más)누군가를 지목하며 '분위기 망친 건 네 탓이야'라고 하면 분위기가 더 나빠진다
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 場の空気 with physical air quality — it is entirely about social atmosphere
- Not understanding that reading 場の空気 is considered a fundamental social skill in Japan, not an optional nicety
Origin & History
From 場 (place/setting) + 空気 (air/atmosphere). The concept of 'reading the air' (空気を読む) became a defining social expectation in Japanese culture. KY (空気読めない, can't read the room) became a buzzword in the 2000s.
Cultural Context
Era: Classical concept, KY buzzword in 2000s
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The expectation to read 場の空気 is one of the most discussed aspects of Japanese social behaviour.
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