January 20, 2026 at 10:55 am

The Concept Of “Wabi Sabi” Describes “Perfectly Imperfect” Things, But The Internet Has Ruined It

by Michael Levanduski

Bobby Hill Wabi Sabi

TikTok

If you are a fan of King of the Hill, you have likely heard Bobby Hill describing a girl he likes as having ‘Wabi sabi’ because she isn’t perfect, but she is perfect for him.

It is a touching concept, and not surprisingly, the internet started using it, but people quickly started using it to compliment things that should not be complimented at all.

One TikToker illustrates this in a video, which is captioned, “How the wabi sabi trend is starting to sound.”

This should be good.

Woman talking about Wabi Sabi

TikTok/ynb_ha

She then gives examples in a very cute voice. One example she gives is, “But I love being a piece of **** it gives me wabi sabi.”

I mean, she’s not wrong.

Bobby Hill saying Wabi Sabi

TikTok/ynb_ha

Another example comes next where she says, “I know my boyfriend hits me, but I love him. He just has wabi sabi.”

Yikes, that is a big extreme, but honestly, I could see some people doing this.

Woman talking about Wabi Sabi

TikTok/ynb_ha

Then she ends with, “I like how your nose is crooked, it just has wabi sabi.”

She is very funny, and she illustrates perfectly how people ruined this concept.

It is pretty funny, and it definitely doesn’t give her wabi sabi.

Check out the full video below to hear all of her funny examples.

@ynb_ha

Turned into sneak disses and excuses 🫩#wabisabi

♬ Chopin Nocturne Op9-No2(989973) – Satoru Saito

The people in the comments fully agree with her.

This person says it was cute at first, but not anymore.

Comment 1 22 The Concept Of Wabi Sabi Describes Perfectly Imperfect Things, But The Internet Has Ruined It

These backhanded compliments are just rude.

Comment 2 22 The Concept Of Wabi Sabi Describes Perfectly Imperfect Things, But The Internet Has Ruined It

This commenter sums it up perfectly.

Comment 3 22 The Concept Of Wabi Sabi Describes Perfectly Imperfect Things, But The Internet Has Ruined It

Come on, people, not everything is ‘wabi sabi.’

If you liked that story, check out this one about a woman who went on a date with somebody who was 10 years older than her. Find out what happened!

Senior Contributing Editor, Workplace & Community

Michael Levanduski is a veteran journalist and digital culture specialist with over 15 years of professional writing and research experience. While his background spans emerging technology and complex technical subjects, Michael specializes in analyzing workplace ethics, property disputes, and viral interpersonal dynamics across modern digital forums.

Since joining TwistedSifter in 2024, Michael has authored some of the publication’s most widely read coverage on corporate policy, malicious compliance, and neighborhood relations. Rather than simply aggregating online debates, he brings rigorous research, organizational context, and an empathetic editorial voice to everyday human dilemmas—transforming raw forum discussions into insightful, highly engaging narratives.

When he isn’t covering internet culture, Michael enjoys traveling, keeping up with tech trends, and spending time with his family. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn and Facebook.