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Proverbs & idioms
462 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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蛙の面に小便
かえるのつらにしょうべん
like water off a duck's back; urine on a frog's face
蛙の面に水
かえるのつらにみず
like water off a duck's back; water on a frog's face
血が流れる
ちがながれる
to have the blood of ... running in one's veins (artist, warrior, etc.); to be born with particular skills, characteristics, etc.; to have something "in one's blood"
血が騒ぐ
ちがさわぐ
to get excited; to be roused (to action); to get the itch (to do)
血で血を洗う
ちでちをあらう
to engage in a bloody feud; to have a family quarrel; to quarrel with one's own flesh and blood; to wash blood for blood
血のにじむよう
ちのにじむよう
painstaking (e.g. effort); excruciating (e.g. hard work); grueling
血の通った
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ちのかよった
flesh-and-blood; human; warm; compassionate; blood-circulating
血も涙もない
ちもなみだもない
cold-blooded; unfeeling; heartless; heart of stone; inconsiderate
血肉の争い
けつにくのあらそい
family quarrel
裸足で逃げる
はだしでにげる
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
裸足で逃げ出す
はだしでにげだす
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
触手を伸ばす
しょくしゅをのばす
to reach out (for); to extend one's reach (towards); to set one's sights (on); to work towards (getting, becoming, etc.); to put out a feeler; to extend one's tentacles
言葉を呑む
ことばをのむ
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
話の腰を折る
はなしのこしをおる
to interfere; to butt in; to interrupt someone
豚に真珠
ぶたにしんじゅ
casting pearls before swine
貝になる
かいになる
to keep one's mouth shut; to clam up; to be silent; to say nothing
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
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
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)
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
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)
返り血を浴びる
かえりちをあびる
to suffer a reaction; to receive a backlash
逃げ腰
にげごし
preparing to flee; being ready to run away
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
重い腰を上げる
おもいこしをあげる
to get off one's backside; to bestir oneself
針の穴から天を覗く
はりのあなからてんをのぞく
to have a narrow view of things; to peek at the sky through the eye of a needle
針の穴から天覗く
はりのあなからてんのぞく
to have a narrow view of things; to peek at the sky through the eye of a needle
長い目で見る
ながいめでみる
to look at the long term
開いた口がふさがらない
あいたくちがふさがらない
dumbfounded; speechless; flabbergasted; openmouthed (with surprise)
阿呆の話食い
あほうのはなしぐい
an idiot will swallow anything; an idiot will believe anything they hear; fools act without thinking