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Proverbs & idioms
1355 entries
Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.
Proverbs
Four-character idioms
Idioms
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息が合う
いきがあう
to perform in tune with each other; to get along well; to be in perfect harmony; to make a perfect pair (team, etc.)
息のかかる
いきのかかる
to have the personal support of (an influential person); to be under the patronage of
息の根
いきのね
life
息を引き取る
いきをひきとる
to die; to draw one's last breath; to breathe one's last
愚の骨頂
ぐのこっちょう
the height of folly; sheer stupidity
愛のムチ
あいのむち
(lesson in) tough love
愛嬌を振りまく
あいきょうをふりまく
to make oneself pleasant to everybody; to smile at everybody; to try to please everybody; to make things pleasant
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愛想を振りまく
あいそをふりまく
to make oneself pleasant to everybody; to smile at everybody; to try to please everybody; to make things pleasant
感情に走る
かんじょうにはしる
to act on one's emotions; to be carried away by one's feelings; to get emotional
我が身可愛さ
わがみかわいさ
looking out for oneself; putting one's own skin first; prioritizing one's own safety above all else
戴くものは夏も小袖
いただくものはなつもこそで
taking whatever one can get one's hands on; being greedy; accepting a padded silk sleeve even in summer
手がかかる
てがかかる
to take a lot of dealing with; to be a handful
手がつけられない
てがつけられない
out of control; out of hand; unmanageable; nothing one can do
手がない
てがない
not having enough workers; being understaffed; being undermanned; having nothing one can do about something; having no options; no reason not to ...
手が上がる
てがあがる
to improve one's skill (esp. at calligraphy or drinking larger amounts of alcohol)
手が出ない
てがでない
out of one's reach; beyond one's grasp
手が出る
てがでる
to jab; to swing at a bad ball (baseball)
手が切れる
てがきれる
to break off with (e.g. one's lover)
手が利く
てがきく
to be able; to be competent
手が塞がる
てがふさがる
to be busy; to be tied up doing something
手が届く
てがとどく
to be able to reach; to be within one's reach; to be able to afford; to have the means to buy; to be near (a certain age)
手が悪い
てがわるい
being dealt a bad hand; poor (handwriting); unscrupulous
手が早い
てがはやい
being a fast worker; fast in forming relationships with women; quick to resort to violence; quick to turn violent
手が空く
てがあく
to be free; to be available
手が込む
てがこむ
to be intricate; to be elaborate; to be complicated; to be complex
手が離せない
てがはなせない
unable to leave the work at hand; right in the middle of something; tied up; busy
手が離れる
てがはなれる
to become independent
手ぐすね引く
てぐすねひく
to be ready and waiting; to be on the alert; to be on the watch
手につかない
てにつかない
unable to focus on ... (due to being preoccupied with something else); unable to concentrate on ...; unable to settle down to ...
手に乗る
てにのる
to fall for a trick; to be taken in; to play into the hands (of)
手に汗を握る
てにあせをにぎる
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
手に汗握る
てにあせにぎる
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
手のかかる
てのかかる
troublesome; difficult (e.g. customer, guest, child); laborious (e.g. task, dinner)
手のつけられない
てのつけられない
out of control; out of hand; unmanageable
手のひらを返す
てのひらをかえす
to flip-flop; to do an about-face; to flip over one's hand; to do something easy
手のもの
てのもの
one's speciality; one's forte; one's strong point
手の内を見せる
てのうちをみせる
to reveal one's true intentions; to show one's cards
手の施しようがない
てのほどこしようがない
beyond help; there's nothing that can be done
手の早い
てのはやい
fast (worker); fast in forming relationships with women; quick to resort to violence; quick to turn violent
手の者
てのもの
one's subordinate
手を伸ばす
てをのばす
to try one's hand at (something new)
手を伸べる
てをのべる
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
手を借りる
てをかりる
to get (someone's) help; to ask for help
手を出す
てをだす
to get involved in; to embark on; to try one's hand at; to turn one's hand to; to start a fight; to get physical with
手を切る
てをきる
to cut one's connections (with); to break off relations (with); to cut ties (with); to break away (from); to part ways (with); to cease to deal with
手を合わせる
てをあわせる
to compete against someone; to play (a game, match, etc.) against someone
手を変え品を変え
てをかえしなをかえ
by hook or by crook; by all possible means
手を差し伸べる
てをさしのべる
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
手を打つ
てをうつ
to take (preventive) measures; to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain
手を抜く
てをぬく
to cut corners; to be shoddy; to slack off; to go easy (on an opponent); to hold back (in a competition, fight, etc.)