Take the 2-minute tour ×

I am looking for a word (or two words) that means something similar to "unagi" as it is used in the TV show Friends (i.e., the concept they were trying to go for, not the fish!) - a total sense of awareness of yourself and your surroundings.

share|improve this question
what is Unagi??? –  Oldcat Mar 28 '14 at 17:32
I think the word you're thinking of isn't unagi but zanshin. In Chinese it's the same as "residual mind"... and you could consider it a relaxed awareness, but unagi is eel, isn't it? –  Ice-9 Mar 28 '14 at 17:35
@Ice-9: Indeed. That very point was made 68 months ago on askville, doubtless in relation to the same source that caused OP's misunderstanding. –  FumbleFingers Mar 28 '14 at 17:39
I was referring to the concept in Friends that Ross was trying to get across - the idea of awareness. I realise it actually means fish but I thought it described the idea quite well –  user3463248 Mar 28 '14 at 17:40
Could you please edit the question to reflect the Friends origin and explain it better? Comments are occasionally deleted. –  Bradd Szonye Mar 28 '14 at 19:53

5 Answers 5

In Friends, Ross uses the word unagi incorrectly, but the word he means to use is zanshin, which is a term used in Japanese martial arts.

Zanshin means "residual mind". It refers to a state of relaxed awareness in which a practitioner of martial arts is wary of their surroundings before, during, and after attacks. It can refer to mental states, physical states, or both, but the basic idea is that the user is always aware of their surroundings, even when they are at rest. So if I were to give you a word (or two) to summarize the concept you're thinking about, it would be relaxed awareness.

share|improve this answer

The term "ecstasy" comes from a Greek root meaning "to stand outside". It is a subjective experience of transcendence, during which the individual achieves a heightened sense of awareness.

share|improve this answer

We talk about the need for living in the now, about mindfulness (focusing one's awareness on the present moment, calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations, and awareness of surroundings.)

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn:

My own definition of mindfulness is very simple: Mindfulness is the gentle effort to be continuously present with.

So, being mindful, attentive, present, living in the now all express what I believe you are trying to name.

share|improve this answer

Assuming it is zanshin you mean, I suggest "poise" especially senses 4 and 5 in wiktionary: "A state of balance, equilibrium or stability; composure...".

See also the OED definition "Balance, equilibrium... composure... self-possession" (subscription link; see sense 7, especially 7(b)).

In particular, "poise" seems to have the same connotation of readiness. Note also some of its synonyms: calmness, serenity, self-possession, presence of mind, balance, bearing.

It is not a perfect equivalent, because "poise" has a few other meanings that do not match so well.

share|improve this answer

Situational awareness describes this perfectly.

From Wikipedia:


While this term has been co-opted into business jargon, it originated in military theory. Elements of it were featured prominently in Sun Tzu's Art of War.

In the business sense it has come be associated with adapting toward achieving one's goals. But, its original sense was being able to function as a solider due to the awareness of one's surroundings.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


