Proverbs & idioms

100 entries

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

Proverbs Four-character idioms Idioms

Theme:All themes Animal198 Body462 Nature244 Food106 Emotion100 Money58 Time77 Number592 Color85

ごまめの歯軋りごまめのはぎしりfeeble anger (that one cannot act on because one is powerless); the clenching teeth of a dried sardine
はらわたが煮えくり返るはらわたがにえくりかえるto be furious; to seethe with anger; to have one's blood boiling
へそが茶を沸かすへそがちゃをわかすwhat a joke!; don't make me laugh!; to split one's sides laughing; to be convulsed with laughter; one's navel boils water (using the heat generated by laughing)
へそで茶を沸かすへそでちゃをわかすwhat a joke!; don't make me laugh!; to split one's sides laughing; to be convulsed with laughter; to boil tea with one's navel (using the heat generated by laughing)
やきもちを焼くやきもちをやくto be jealous
ノミの心臓のみのしんぞうtimidity; cowardice; courage of a flea

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ヤキモチ焼くやきもちやく

to be jealous

三舎を避けるさんしゃをさけるto keep one's distance from someone (due to fear or because that person is superior)

下駄の雪げたのゆきhanger-on; lackey; sycophant; snow stuck under a geta sandal

不幸中の幸いふこうちゅうのさいわいsmall mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise

会稽の恥かいけいのはじhumiliation of defeat in battle; past humiliation by others; shame of an unendurable disgrace

会稽の恥を雪ぐかいけいのはじをすすぐto avenge a defeat; to regain one's honor

光と影ひかりとかげrise and fall; ups and downs; shame and glory; bright side and dark side; light and shadow

化けの皮が剥がれるばけのかわがはがれるto betray oneself; to reveal one's true colors; to show the cloven hoof; to throw off the mask; to give oneself away

危ない橋を渡るあぶないはしをわたるto tread on thin ice; to go out on a limb; to walk a tightrope; to take risks; to cross a dangerous bridge

味を占めるあじをしめるto be encouraged by initial success; to get a taste for; to yearn for more

固唾を呑むかたずをのむto hold one's breath (in fear, anxiety, etc.)

大山鳴動して鼠一匹たいざんめいどうしてねずみいっぴきmuch ado about nothing; great cry and little wool; the mountain laboured and brought forth a mouse

天にも昇るてんにものぼるto be ecstatically happy; to be on cloud nine; to be in seventh heaven

天にも昇る心地てんにものぼるここちfeeling extremely happy; being in seventh heaven

寒苦鳥かんくちょう(lazy) person who is poor at practicing asceticism; person unlikely to reach satori

寵愛昂じて尼になすちょうあいこうじてあまになすto love one's child too much for their own good; to love one's daughter so much as to make her a nun

尻をたたくしりをたたくto encourage to do (something); to urge a person on; to demand action

屋烏の愛おくうのあいtrue love; deep love; love for someone so deep that it can reach a crow perched on that person's roof

市に虎を放ついちにとらをはなつto let a fox into the henhouse; to do something dangerous; to let loose a tiger in the marketplace

弁慶の泣き所べんけいのなきどころAchilles heel; one's weak point; shin

心臓に毛が生えているしんぞうにけがはえているto be shameless; to have a lot of nerve; to have nerves of steel; to have hair on one's heart

愛のムチあいのむち(lesson in) tough love

愛嬌を振りまくあいきょうをふりまくto make oneself pleasant to everybody; to smile at everybody; to try to please everybody; to make things pleasant

愛想を振りまくあいそをふりまくto make oneself pleasant to everybody; to smile at everybody; to try to please everybody; to make things pleasant

我が身可愛さわがみかわいさlooking out for oneself; putting one's own skin first; prioritizing one's own safety above all else

戴くものは夏も小袖いただくものはなつもこそでtaking whatever one can get one's hands on; being greedy; accepting a padded silk sleeve even in summer

手が切れるてがきれるto break off with (e.g. one's lover)

拍車がかかるはくしゃがかかるto expedite; to encourage; to spur (on)

拍車をかけるはくしゃをかけるto spur (on); to expedite; to encourage

枕を濡らすまくらをぬらすto cry in bed; to cry oneself to sleep; to weep secretly in bed; to moisten one's pillow (with one's tears)

枕を高くして寝るまくらをたかくしてねるto sleep in peace; to sleep without fear

枕を高くして眠るまくらをたかくしてねむるto sleep in peace; to sleep without fear

楽毛らくげrapid growth of hair when one is relaxed

楽髪らくがみrapid growth of hair when one is relaxed

歯を食いしばるはをくいしばるto bear up in tragedy; to stand pain well; to hold one's temper; to put up (with something); to clench one's teeth

油を注ぐあぶらをそそぐto turn up; to add fuel (e.g. to a dispute); to rev up; to encourage

泣いても笑ってもないてもわらってもwhether you like it or not; no matter what one may do; in any event; in any case; whether you laugh or cry

泣いて馬謖を斬るないてばしょくをきるbeing just before one is generous; punishing someone you love or value to uphold the rules; shedding tears while beheading Ma Su

泣きを見るなきをみるto experience hardship; to suffer a bad experience; to be put in a tough spot

泣き面に蜂なきつらにはちmaking matters worse; adding insult to injury; bees to a tearful face

泣く子も黙るなくこもだまるintimidating enough to quieten a crying child

満面朱を注ぐまんめんしゅをそそぐto be flushed bright red (with anger or embarrassment)

火中の栗を拾うかちゅうのくりをひろうto take a risk for someone; to endanger oneself for someone; to gather chestnuts from the fire

火遊びひあそびdoing something dangerous; playing with fire