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Proverbs & idioms

1789 entries

Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.

Proverbs Four-character idioms Idioms

Theme:All themes Animal200 Body319 Nature259 Food66 Emotion130 Money76 Time139 Number633 Color102

当代無双とうだいむそうbeing unsurpassed (unparalleled) at present
当代随一とうだいずいいちthe greatest of the day
当意即妙とういそくみょうready wit; repartee
形影一如けいえいいちにょbeing inseparable as a form and its shadow; a person's deed mirrors the good or evil of his mind; husband and wife being never apart
彫心鏤骨ちょうしんるこつlaborious work; lucubration; lucubrations; painstakingly polishing a piece of literary work
往事渺茫おうじびょうぼうmemories of the past events (being, becoming) far and distant
往事茫々おうじぼうぼうmemories of the past events (being, becoming) far and distant

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往古来今おうこらいこんin all ages; since antiquity

後生可畏こうせいかいthe young should be regarded with respect

後生大事ごしょうだいじwith religious zeal; with utmost devotion; take great care of

徒手空拳としゅくうけんbeing empty-handed; being penniless; having no capital (for starting a business)

従容自若しょうようじじゃくhaving presence of mind; imperturbable; calm and self-possessed; with serenity

得意満面とくいまんめんtriumphant air; smugness

得手勝手えてかってself-willed; (doing or saying things) to suit one's own convenience

御用繁多ごようはんたbeing busy with many things; extreme busyness due to pressure of business

徹頭徹尾てっとうてつびthoroughly; through and through; out and out; in every way; from beginning to end; from start to finish

心外千万しんがいせんばんbeing totally upset (by); being completely nonplussed (by); being mortified (at); feeling aggrieved (at); finding (it) highly regrettable

心悸亢進しんきこうしんpalpitations; tachycardia

心機一転しんきいってんchanging one's attitude; turning over a new leaf; getting a fresh start

心猿意馬しんえんいば(being unable to control) one's worldly desires and passions

心象風景しんしょうふうけいimagined landscape; scenery in one's mind's eye

心身一如しんしんいちにょbody and mind as one; mind-body unity

心霊現象しんれいげんしょうpsychic phenomenon

心頭滅却しんとうめっきゃくclearing one's mind of all worldly thoughts

心願成就しんがんじょうじゅearnest prayers being answered; realization of one's earnest wishes

志操堅固しそうけんごbeing faithful to one's principles; being of firm purpose and deep commitment; constancy; true blue

忙中有閑ぼうちゅうゆうかんhaving free time to spare in the midst of busyness; leisure in the intervals of one's work

応急措置おうきゅうそちstopgap measure; quick-fix solution

忠勇無双ちゅうゆうむそうof peerless loyalty and bravery

忠君愛国ちゅうくんあいこくloyalty and patriotism

忠孝両全ちゅうこうりょうぜんbeing a good son and a loyal subject; possessing loyalty and filial piety

忠言逆耳ちゅうげんぎゃくじgood advice is harsh to the ears; honest advice is often unpleasant to the ears

快刀乱麻かいとうらんまsolving a problem swiftly and skillfully

念仏三昧ねんぶつざんまいbeing deep in prayer; praying devoutly to Amida Buddha

怒髪衝天どはつしょうてんbeing in a towering rage; boiling with rage

思慮分別しりょふんべつdiscreet and well-advised judgment; wise and mature judgment; making judgment with prudence

思案投首しあんなげくびbeing at one's wit's end; being (quite) at a loss (what to do)

急転直下きゅうてんちょっかsuddenly and precipitately; take a sudden turn

怨憎会苦おんぞうえくthe pain of meeting people one dislikes

怨敵退散おんてきたいさんinvoking disaster upon one's mortal enemy; Confusion to the enemy!

怨親平等おんしんびょうどうcare equally for friends and foes; treat everyone with equal kindness

怪力乱神かいりょくらんしんsupernatural things; unnatural phenomena; spirits and demons

恐恐謹言きょうきょうきんげんvery truly yours (a complimentary close used in a letter written in an old epistolary style)

恐悦至極きょうえつしごくextremely delighted

恐惶謹言きょうこうきんげんvery truly yours; very respectfully yours

恐懼感激きょうくかんげきbeing struck with awe; deeply moved with awe

息災延命そくさいえんめいhealth and longevity; enjoying a long and healthy life being untouched by disaster

悉皆成仏しっかいじょうぶつall things have the Buddha nature

悠々自適ゆうゆうじてきliving a life of leisure with dignity; living quietly and comfortably free from worldly cares; otium cum dignitate

悠々閑々ゆうゆうかんかんcomposed and unhurried; easygoing and leisurely; in indolence