余白（よはく、yohaku）
- margin

The Japanese word 余白, read as よはく, primarily refers to "blank space," "margin," or "white space." It's the empty area around text, images, or other elements in a design or layout. It's also used more broadly to signify free time or the space available for something. It can relate to the amount of space, time, or opportunity that is left over or available. ⚫︎ It can refer to the margins of a page in a book or document. ⚫︎ It can refer to the space between elements in a web design. ⚫︎ It can refer to the empty area in a painting or photograph. ⚫︎ It can refer to a time left over. ⚫︎ The word emphasizes the importance of negative space in design and the value of having open spaces. ⚫︎ 余白 helps with readability, visual balance, and overall aesthetics.

⚫︎ この文章には、もっと余白が必要だ。 Translation: More blank space is needed in this text. ⚫︎ 余白を活かしたデザインは美しい。 Translation: A design that makes use of blank space is beautiful. ⚫︎ 宿題の余白に落書きをした。 Translation: I doodled in the margins of my homework.

You can use 余白 in various contexts where you're discussing blank spaces, margins, or unused areas. ⚫︎ When talking about design, you use it when referring to white space, margins, or the layout of elements. ⚫︎ When talking about free time or extra space, you can indicate that there is some 余白 remaining for an activity. ⚫︎ It's also useful when discussing the physical space in a document, book, or other printed material.

余白 is typically written in kanji as 余白. The reading is よはく, written in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎ 空き (あき): "Empty space," "vacancy," or "room." ⚫︎ スペース: This is a loanword from English, meaning "space." ⚫︎ マージン: This is also a loanword from English, meaning "margin."

⚫︎ 埋まる (うまる): "To be filled." ⚫︎ 詰まる (つまる): "To be packed," "to be congested." ⚫︎ ぎっしり: "Closely packed."

プレゼンテーションのデザインでは、余白を多く取ると見やすくなる。 ・Translation: In presentation design, taking up a lot of blank space makes it easier to see. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how to use 余白 effectively in design to enhance readability.

時間が少し余白があるので、お茶でも飲みませんか？ ・Translation: I have some free time, shall we have some tea? ・Explanation: This sentence uses 余白 to refer to available time.

The word 余白 is composed of two parts: 余 (よ) meaning "excess," "remaining," or "leftover," and 白 (はく) meaning "white" or "blank." Therefore, the literal translation of the word itself is "remaining white" or "excess white," describing the blank areas that are not filled with text or images.