Proverbs & idioms

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

• 自己韜晦じことうかいconcealing one's talents, position, status, intentions, etc.
• 自己顕示じこけんじmaking oneself conspicuous; pressing one's own cause
• 自暴自棄じぼうじきdesperation; despair; self-abandonment
• 自業自得じごうじとくpaying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); reap what you sow
• 自浄作用じじょうさようautopurificatory activity (in the natural world)
• 自然淘汰しぜんとうたnatural selection
• 自由奔放じゆうほんぽうfree and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling