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1789 entries
Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.
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Four-character idioms
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台風一過
たいふういっか
clear weather after a typhoon has passed
叱咤激励
しったげきれい
giving a loud pep talk; encouraging (someone) strongly in a loud voice
史上空前
しじょうくうぜん
unprecedented in history; unheard-of; epoch-making
右顧左眄
うこさべん
inability to make up one's mind due to worrying about how others will think; hesitation; wavering; vacillation
各人各様
かくじんかくよう
different strokes for different folks; people doing something in their own way
各種各様
かくしゅかくよう
individual (different) ways of doing things; being different (varied) for each item (type)
合従連衡
がっしょうれんこう
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alliance (of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty, and of individual Kingdoms with the Qin dynasty); (tactic of) making and breaking alliances (to benefit oneself as the occasion demands); resorting to alliances as a diplomatic expedient
合縁奇縁
あいえんきえん
a couple strangely but happily united; uncanny relationship formed by a quirk of fate
吉凶禍福
きっきょうかふく
good and bad fortune, and weal and woe
同化作用
どうかさよう
assimilation; metabolism; anabolism
同工異曲
どうこういきょく
equal workmanship but different style
同床異夢
どうしょういむ
cohabiting but living in different worlds
同文同種
どうぶんどうしゅ
same race and same script
同盟罷業
どうめいひぎょう
strike
名声赫々
めいせいかっかく
of great renown; highly illustrious; at the zenith of one's fame
名所古跡
めいしょこせき
scenic sites and historic places; places of natural beauty and historic interest
名所旧跡
めいしょきゅうせき
places of scenic beauty and historical interest
名誉挽回
めいよばんかい
restoring one's impaired reputation; regaining one's honor; redeeming oneself
名論卓説
めいろんたくせつ
excellent opinions and theories
君子豹変
くんしひょうへん
the wise readily adapt themselves to changed circumstances; the wise are quick to acknowledge their mistakes and correct them; the wise make no scruple in suddenly changing their demeanor
周知徹底
しゅうちてってい
making (something) known to everyone; publicizing as widely as possible; dissemination
周章狼狽
しゅうしょうろうばい
consternation; falling into a panic; fluster; confusion; dismay; discomfiture
呵々大笑
かかたいしょう
laughing a ringing laugh; having a hearty laugh; roaring with laughter
和光同塵
わこうどうじん
mingling with the world by hiding one's true talent or knowledge; living a quiet life by effacing oneself
和敬清寂
わけいせいじゃく
harmony, respect, purity and tranquility; the four most important elements of the tea ceremony
和気あいあい
わきあいあい
harmonious; peaceful; congenial; friendly; happy
和衷協同
わちゅうきょうどう
harmonious cooperation; close cooperation
和顔愛語
わがんあいご
with a gentle face and a nice word
和魂洋才
わこんようさい
Japanese spirit with Western learning
和魂漢才
わこんかんさい
the Japanese spirit imbued with Chinese learning
哀毀骨立
あいきこつりつ
losing weight and becoming bony because of grief
品行方正
ひんこうほうせい
irreproachable conduct; good conduct; high morals
唇歯輔車
しんしほしゃ
mutual dependence
唐突千万
とうとつせんばん
very sudden; very abrupt
唯々諾々
いいだくだく
obedient; submissive; tame; slavish
唯一不二
ゆいいつふじ
one and only; unique
唯一無二
ゆいいつむに
one and only; unique
唯我独尊
ゆいがどくそん
throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one; self-conceit; self-centeredness; vainglory
商売繁盛
しょうばいはんじょう
thriving (prosperous) business; rush of business
問答無用
もんどうむよう
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion
問答無益
もんどうむえき
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion
啐啄同時
そったくどうじ
timing is everything; don't jump the gun
善因善果
ぜんいんぜんか
good actions lead to good rewards; one good turn deserves another
善後処置
ぜんごしょち
remedial measure; settlement (of matters); dealing with the aftermath
善男善女
ぜんなんぜんにょ
pious men and women; religious people; the faithful
善隣友好
ぜんりんゆうこう
neighbourly friendship; neighborly friendship
善隣外交
ぜんりんがいこう
good-neighbor diplomacy; a good-neighbor policy
喉元思案
のどもとじあん
superficial way of thinking; shortsighted thinking; shallow idea
喋々喃々
ちょうちょうなんなん
billing and cooing; holding an intimate, long-winded conversation in whispers
喜色満面
きしょくまんめん
being all smiles with joy