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Proverbs & idioms
130 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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狂瀾怒涛
きょうらんどとう
maelstrom; the state of affairs being in great turmoil
狡兎三窟
こうとさんくつ
very shrewd in preparing a means of escape; being very good at escaping danger
王道楽土
おうどうらくど
Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king
疾風怒濤
しっぷうどとう
storm and stress; Sturm und Drang
相思相愛
そうしそうあい
mutual love
知勇兼備
ちゆうけんび
having both wisdom and courage
破顔一笑
はがんいっしょう
smiling broadly
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破顔大笑
はがんたいしょう
breaking into a hearty laugh
福徳円満
ふくとくえんまん
being perfectly happy and prosperous; wealth and happiness
笑止千万
しょうしせんばん
highly ridiculous; quite absurd
粒々辛苦
りゅうりゅうしんく
toil and moil; working assiduously for; tireless hard work; painstaking labor (labour)
羊頭狗肉
ようとうくにく
crying wine and selling vinegar; deceptive advertisement
胆大心小
たんだいしんしょう
being bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous
艱難辛苦
かんなんしんく
trial and tribulation; hardships; privations; difficulties
苦学力行
くがくりっこう
strenuous pursuit of learning under difficulties
苦心惨憺
くしんさんたん
taking great pains
落花流水
らっかりゅうすい
mutual love; the love one shows to another person being returned
言語道断
ごんごどうだん
outrageous; preposterous; scandalous; inexcusable; absurd; execrable
辛苦艱難
しんくかんなん
trials and tribulations; adversities; suffering hardships and troubles
辛酸甘苦
しんさんかんく
hardships and joys; tasting the sweets and bitters of life; being well-versed in the ways of the world (having seen much of life)
遺憾千万
いかんせんばん
extremely regrettable; deeply unfortunate; most disappointing; utterly deplorable
難行苦行
なんぎょうくぎょう
penance; hardship
青天白日
せいてんはくじつ
clear weather; being cleared of the charge (brought against one); having one's innocence proved; having a clear conscience; having nothing to be ashamed of
非難轟々
ひなんごうごう
loud criticism; torrent of criticism; fierce denouncement (from many people); uproarious outcry
風声鶴唳
ふうせいかくれい
getting frightened even by a slight noise; hearing the enemy in every leaf that rustles; being afraid of one's own shadow
驚天動地
きょうてんどうち
astounding; startling; world-shaking; amazing; earth-shattering
鬼哭啾啾
きこくしゅうしゅう
spine-chilling (like the wailing and weeping of a restless ghost); hair-raising
鳶飛魚躍
えんぴぎょやく
all of creation following their original natures, living and enjoying themselves freely; the kites fly and the fish leap; Heaven's will that all of creation shall follow their original natures and live freely; as a ruler's benevolence spreads, the people will find their places in the land based on their abilities
鼓腹撃壌
こふくげきじょう
(people) sing the praises (enjoy the blessings) of peace
鼓舞激励
こぶげきれい
encouragement