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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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贅沢を言う
ぜいたくをいう
to ask for too much; to expect too much
赤い糸で結ばれる
あかいいとでむすばれる
to be meant for each other (of a man and woman); to be connected through fate; to be destined to marry (each other); to be tied by the red string (of fate)
赤子の手をひねる
あかごのてをひねる
to take candy from a baby; to accomplish something with ease; to twist a baby's arm
赤子の腕をひねる
あかごのうでをねじる
to take candy from a baby; to accomplish something with ease; to twist a baby's arm
走馬灯
そうまとう
ever-changing scene (e.g. life flashing before one's eyes)
走馬灯のように駆け巡る
そうまとうのようにかけめぐる
to flash before one's eyes (of memories, etc.)
足がつく
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あしがつく
to be traced (of a criminal); to be tracked; to have a (male) lover
足が出る
あしがでる
to exceed the budget; to overrun the budget; to have a deficit; to go into the red; to have a secret revealed
足が向く
あしがむく
to head towards; to be inclined to go towards; to head for a place naturally
足が地に着かない
あしがちにつかない
losing oneself; on top of the world; walking on air; frivolous
足が早い
あしがはやい
to be quick to spoil (of foodstuffs)
足が棒になる
あしがぼうになる
to get stiff legs (after walking or standing up for a long time)
足が途絶える
あしがとだえる
to lose all customers (visitors, etc.)
足の引っ張り合い
あしのひっぱりあい
standing in each other's way; holding each other back; getting in the way of each other's success; hindering each other's progress
足の裏の米粒
あしのうらのこめつぶ
pointless (academic) degree; meaningless qualification; useless license; a grain of rice on the sole of the foot (must be removed, but not enough for a meal)
足の踏み場もない
あしのふみばもない
very messy; (stuff) all over the place; no space even for one's feet
足るを知る
たるをしる
to know one has enough; to be satisfied with one's lot in life
足をすくう
あしをすくう
to trip someone up; to pull the carpet from under
足を引っ張る
あしをひっぱる
to hold back (someone) from achieving success; to stand in the way of; to sabotage
足を棒にする
あしをぼうにする
to walk one's legs off; to walk until one's legs feel like lead; to walk to the point of exhaustion
足を洗う
あしをあらう
to quit (a shady business); to wash one's hands of; to cut one's ties with; to turn over a new leaf; to go straight
足を運ぶ
あしをはこぶ
to go (to); to make one's way (to); to visit
足並みが揃う
あしなみがそろう
to align (with another's thoughts or actions); to be on the same page
足並みを揃える
あしなみをそろえる
to align (with another's thoughts or actions); to get on the same page
足元から鳥が立つ
あしもとからとりがたつ
for something unexpected to happen (to someone or something one is close to); (deciding to do something) abruptly; at the turn of a dime
足元を見る
あしもとをみる
to take advantage (e.g. of a weak situation); to size up (e.g. customer when setting a high price)
跡をつける
あとをつける
to tag along; to follow; to tail; to shadow
路頭に迷う
ろとうにまよう
to be left without means of sustenance; to be turned adrift in the streets; to be rendered homeless; to be out in the cold; to be down and out
踏んだり蹴ったり
ふんだりけったり
having one misfortune after another; insult to injury
蹴破る
けやぶる
to smash through (e.g. the enemy); to rout
身から出た錆
みからでたさび
paying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); reaping what you sow; making a rod for one's own back
身が入る
みがはいる
to give one's everything; to make one's best effort; to be enthused; to put your back into it
身の丈に合う
みのたけにあう
to be appropriate (for one's position); to be within one's means; to be suited to (one's abilities)
身も蓋もない
みもふたもない
blunt; to the point; direct; outspoken; frank
身を入れる
みをいれる
to put one's heart (into); to apply oneself (to); to devote oneself (to); to take an interest (in)
車軸を流す
しゃじくをながす
to rain heavily; to be raining cats and dogs
車輪の再発明
しゃりんのさいはつめい
reinventing the wheel
軍配が上がる
ぐんばいがあがる
to be declared the winner
轍を踏む
てつをふむ
to repeat someone's mistake; to make the same mistake as one's predecessor; to follow the ruts (of a previous cart)
辛酸をなめる
しんさんをなめる
to undergo many hardships; to taste the bitters of life
返り血を浴びる
かえりちをあびる
to suffer a reaction; to receive a backlash
迦陵頻伽
かりょうびんが
person or creature with a beautiful voice
逃げ腰
にげごし
preparing to flee; being ready to run away
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
這っても黒豆
はってもくろまめ
insisting one is right even after one has been proven wrong
連木で腹を切る
れんぎではらをきる
to do something impossible; to disembowel oneself with a pestle
運を天に任せる
うんをてんにまかせる
to leave to chance; to resign oneself to one's fate; to leave the rest to heaven
道が開ける
みちがひらける
to open a pathway (to); to find a way (to); to open the door (to); to pave the way (for)
道を踏み外す
みちをふみはずす
to go astray; to become corrupt; to go bad