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Proverbs & idioms
1789 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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談論風発
だんろんふうはつ
spirited discussion
論功行賞
ろんこうこうしょう
conferral of honors (honours), according to merits
論旨明快
ろんしめいかい
the point of an argument being clearly stated; the tenor of an argument being well-reasoned
諸事万端
しょじばんたん
everything; all things
諸国漫遊
しょこくまんゆう
tour around the country; travelling to various provinces
諸子百家
しょしひゃっか
Hundred Schools of Thought (during China's Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period)
諸法無我
しょほうむが
idea that all things in the universe lack their own unchangeable substances
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諸行無常
しょぎょうむじょう
all things must pass; all worldly things are impermanent
諸説紛々
しょせつふんぷん
divergent opinions abound; opinion is divided; there are many rumors afloat
謹厳実直
きんげんじっちょく
sober and honest
議論百出
ぎろんひゃくしゅつ
diverse arguments arising in great numbers
豁然大悟
かつぜんたいご
suddenly seeing the light; achieving full enlightenment all of a sudden
豊年満作
ほうねんまんさく
bumper crops; year of a full rice harvest
象箸玉杯
ぞうちょぎょくはい
living a lavish lifestyle; ivory chopsticks and jade cups
豪放磊落
ごうほうらいらく
broadminded
豪華絢爛
ごうかけんらん
luxurious and gorgeous; magnificent
貧富貴賤
ひんぷきせん
rich and poor, high and low; people of all ranks
貧者の一灯
ひんじゃのいっとう
one's mite; widow's mite; one lantern from a poor man (i.e. no-one can give more than the only thing they have)
貪官汚吏
たんかんおり
corrupt government official
責任転嫁
せきにんてんか
shifting the responsibility (for something) on to (someone); passing the buck
貴賤上下
きせんしょうか
high and low; (people of) all ranks and classes
貴賤貧富
きせんひんぷ
high and low, and rich and poor
貴顕紳士
きけんしんし
gentlemen of (high) eminence; notables; dignitaries
賛否両論
さんぴりょうろん
arguments for and against; pros and cons; mixed reception; mixed reviews
賢良方正
けんりょうほうせい
wise and virtuous; good and able men
質実剛健
しつじつごうけん
unaffected and sincere, with fortitude and vigor (vigour)
質疑応答
しつぎおうとう
question and answer session
質素倹約
しっそけんやく
(practice of) simplicity and frugality; scrimping and saving
贅沢三昧
ぜいたくざんまい
indulging in every possible luxury
赤手空拳
せきしゅくうけん
barehanded; having no wealth or position to rely on (aside from one's own resourcefulness) (when embarking on something)
起承転結
きしょうてんけつ
introduction, development, turn and conclusion (quadripartite structure of certain Chinese poetry); story composition and development
越権行為
えっけんこうい
exceeding one's authority; abusing one's legal authority; ultra vires activities
跋扈跳梁
ばっこちょうりょう
evildoers being rampant and roaming at will
跳梁跋扈
ちょうりょうばっこ
being rampant; domination
躊躇逡巡
ちゅうちょしゅんじゅん
hesitation and vacillation
身体髪膚
しんたいはっぷ
entire human body; every inch of one's body
転地療養
てんちりょうよう
seeking to improve one's health with a change of climate
転生輪廻
てんしょうりんね
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
転迷開悟
てんめいかいご
casting away one's vices or worldly desires and achieving enlightenment
軽佻浮薄
けいちょうふはく
frivolity; levity; shallowness; superficiality
軽妙洒脱
けいみょうしゃだつ
witty; smart and polished
軽挙妄動
けいきょもうどう
rash and blind act
軽薄才子
けいはくさいし
shallow, glib and obsequious person
軽薄短小
けいはくたんしょう
small, light and thin (of consumer products, esp. electronics)
輪廻転生
りんねてんしょう
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
輾転反側
てんてんはんそく
tossing and turning in bed; turning over in bed worrying over something
轗軻不遇
かんかふぐう
being neglected by the world; being denied one's deserved recognition and status
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)
迅速果敢
じんそくかかん
quick and decisive; fast and daring; swift and resolute