Proverbs & idioms

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

• 立身出世りっしんしゅっせsuccess in life
• 竜攘虎搏りゅうじょうこはくfierce fighting
• 竜頭蛇尾りゅうとうだびstrong beginning and weak ending; anticlimax
• 竹林の七賢ちくりんのしちけんSeven Sages of the Bamboo Grove; group of 3rd-century Qingtan scholars, writers, and musicians
• 笑止千万しょうしせんばんhighly ridiculous; quite absurd
• 管鮑之交かんぽうのまじわりinseparable friendship
• 箪食壺漿たんしこしょうreceiving with food and drink (e.g. troops); baskets of rice and vessels of congee