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Proverbs & idioms
100 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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焼けぼっくいに火がつく
やけぼっくいにひがつく
the embers of a former relationship flare up again; old love blazes anew
猫可愛がり
ねこかわいがり
(endlessly) doting (on someone); (constantly) petting (someone) as if they were a pet
猿の尻笑い
さるのしりわらい
the pot calling the kettle black; people who live in glass houses throwing stones; a monkey's laughter at (another monkey's) buttocks
男がすたる
おとこがすたる
to stain one's honour (of a man); to hurt one's reputation; to bring shame upon oneself; to become less of a man
癩の瘡うらみ
かったいのかさうらみ
excessive envy (of someone in much the same position as oneself); envy of a leper's pockmarks
百害あって一利なし
ひゃくがいあっていちりなし
all pain, no gain; doing no good and a lot of harm; having no redeeming features; being a complete disadvantage; a hundred harms and not a single gain
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盗人猛々しい
ぬすっとたけだけしい
brazen-faced (about one's misdeed); audacious (despite being in the wrong); shameless; impudent
目くじらを立てる
めくじらをたてる
to find fault (with trivial matters); to scold over minor things; to get angry over trifles; to raise one's eyebrows
目くじら立てる
めくじらたてる
to find fault (with trivial matters); to scold over minor things; to get angry over trifles; to raise one's eyebrows
目くそが鼻くそを笑う
めくそがはなくそをわらう
the pot calling the kettle black; the goop in the eye laughing at the snot in the nose
目くそ鼻くそを笑う
めくそはなくそをわらう
the pot calling the kettle black; the goop in the eye laughing at the snot in the nose
目に角を立てる
めにかどをたてる
to look angrily at; to look with anger in one's eyes
目頭を押さえる
めがしらをおさえる
to stop oneself from crying; to hold back tears
絵になる
えになる
to make a lovely picture; to be perfect for a picture; picture-perfect; picturesque
羊頭を掲げて狗肉を売る
ようとうをかかげてくにくをうる
to cry wine and sell vinegar; to do deceptive advertisement; to put up a sheep's head and sell dog meat
肴にする
さかなにする
to make fun of someone; to laugh at someone's expense
背中を押す
せなかをおす
to push someone (towards); to encourage someone
能無し犬の高吠え
のうなしいぬのたかぼえ
jealous complaint; the loud bark of a talentless dog
脳内お花畑
のうないおはなばたけ
happy-go-lucky person; dreamer; someone with their head in the clouds; flower garden inside the brain
腹を切る
はらをきる
to take responsibility (and resign); to laugh until one splits one's side
膝が笑う
ひざがわらう
to have one's knees be about to give way
臍を噛む
ほぞをかむ
to regret bitterly; to be very sorry (for); to bite one's navel
色をなす
いろをなす
to turn red (with anger); to be furious; to be livid
花も恥らう
はなもはじらう
outblooming even a flower (of a young girl); even the flower blushes (before her beauty)
苦境に立つ
くきょうにたつ
to be in difficulties; to be in trouble; to be in a difficult situation
苦杯をなめる
くはいをなめる
to drink a bitter cup; to have a bitter experience; to suffer a defeat
苦杯を喫する
くはいをきっする
to drink a bitter cup; to have a bitter experience; to suffer a defeat
苦汁をなめる
くじゅうをなめる
to have a bitter experience
苦虫を噛み潰したよう
にがむしをかみつぶしたよう
sour (expression); as if having chewed on a bitter bug
薪を抱いて火を救う
たきぎをいだいてひをすくう
having one's good intentions backfire dangerously; causing harm when trying to prevent it; trying to put out a fire while carrying kindling
虎の尾を踏む
とらのおをふむ
to play with fire; to do something very dangerous; to take a great risk; to step on a tiger's tail
虎を野に放つ
とらをのにはなつ
to let loose something dangerous; to let loose a tiger in the field
虎口
ここう
tiger's den; jaws of death; dangerous place
裸足で逃げる
はだしでにげる
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
裸足で逃げ出す
はだしでにげだす
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
覚えてろ
おぼえてろ
You'll regret this!; I'll get you for this; Just you wait
角を立てる
かどをたてる
to worsen (the situation); to exacerbate; to aggravate; to look with anger
足がつく
あしがつく
to be traced (of a criminal); to be tracked; to have a (male) lover
逆鱗
げきりん
one's superior's anger
逆鱗に触れる
げきりんにふれる
to infuriate one's superior; to incur the anger of one's boss; to bring (a superior's) wrath down upon one; to incur the Imperial wrath; to offend the Emperor; to touch the scale on a dragon's throat
金魚のうんこ
きんぎょのうんこ
person who just tags along; hanger-on; person who follows someone around like a shadow; clingy person; goldfish poop
金魚のフン
きんぎょのふん
person who just tags along; hanger-on; person who follows someone around like a shadow; clingy person; mindless follower; goldfish feces
青菜に塩
あおなにしお
feeling sad or downhearted; down in the dumps
面の皮が厚い
つらのかわがあつい
shameless; bold; brazen
鞭をくれる
むちをくれる
to spur on; to encourage
顔から火が出る
かおからひがでる
to be extremely embarrassed; to burn with shame
顔に泥を塗る
かおにどろをぬる
to bring disgrace (dishonor, dishonour) on; to fling mud at; to put to shame
鬼が笑う
おにがわらう
to be laughable; to be unrealistic
鴛鴦の契り
えんおうのちぎり
having a happy and harmonious relationship (of a husband and wife)
黄信号
きしんごう
warning sign; sign of danger