40 Essential Japanese Idioms to Master
Level up your fluency. Explore the top 40 common idioms in Japanese, complete with literal translations, real-life conversation examples, and audio playback.
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
Pronunciation: nito o ou mono wa itto mo ezu
Literal Translation:"He who chases two rabbits catches neither"
Meaning:If you try to do two things at once, you will fail at both.
仕事と勉強の両方を完璧にやろうとして、二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ずの状況になってしまった。
I tried to do both work and study perfectly, and ended up catching neither.
出る杭は打たれる
Pronunciation: deru kui wa utareru
Literal Translation:"the stake that sticks out gets hammered down"
Meaning:Outstanding or non-conforming people face criticism or social pressure.
彼は個性的すぎて批判されている。まさに出る杭は打たれるだ。
He is criticized for being too unique; the stake that sticks out gets hammered down.
一期一会
Pronunciation: ichigo ichie
Literal Translation:"one time, one meeting"
Meaning:Treasure every encounter, for it may never happen again.
旅先での出会いは一期一会だから、大切にしたい。
Encounters during travels are once-in-a-lifetime, so I want to treasure them.
棚から牡丹餅
Pronunciation: tana kara botamochi
Literal Translation:"a sweet rice ball falling from a shelf"
Meaning:An unexpected piece of good luck or windfall.
宝くじに当たったのは、まさに棚から牡丹餅だ。
Winning the lottery was a complete stroke of luck.
後の祭り
Pronunciation: ato no matsuri
Literal Translation:"after the festival"
Meaning:Too late; no use regretting what is already done.
今更後悔しても後の祭りだ。
It is too late to regret it now; it is water under the bridge.
漁夫の利
Pronunciation: gyofu no ri
Literal Translation:"the fisherman's profit"
Meaning:A third party benefiting from a dispute between two others.
二社が激しい価格競争をする中、第三の会社が漁夫の利を得た。
While the two companies fought a price war, a third company reaped the benefit.
失敗は成功の基
Pronunciation: shippai wa seikō no moto
Literal Translation:"failure is the source of success"
Meaning:Failure is a stepping stone to success; we learn from our mistakes.
一度の不合格で諦めるな。失敗は成功の基だから。
Don't give up after one failed exam; failure is the mother of success.
油断大敵
Pronunciation: yudan taiteki
Literal Translation:"negligence is a great enemy"
Meaning:Carelessness is one's greatest enemy; stay alert at all times.
簡単な試合だと思って油断すると負けるぞ。油断大敵だ。
If you underestimate a simple game, you will lose; stay alert.
覆水盆に返らず
Pronunciation: fukusui bon ni kaerazu
Literal Translation:"spilt water does not return to the tray"
Meaning:What is done cannot be undone; no use crying over spilt milk.
すでに起こったことを後悔しても覆水盆に返らずだ。
Regretting what has already happened is useless; what's done is done.
犬も歩けば棒に当たる
Pronunciation: inu mo arukeba bō ni ataru
Literal Translation:"even a dog walks and hits a stick"
Meaning:If you take action, you may encounter unexpected luck or misfortune.
出かけてみたら偶然いい仕事が見つかった。犬も歩けば棒に当たるだね。
I went out and accidentally found a good job; it's a stroke of luck.
情けは人のためならず
Pronunciation: nasake wa hito no tame narazu
Literal Translation:"compassion is not only for the sake of others"
Meaning:Showing kindness to others will eventually bring good back to yourself.
人に親切にしよう、情けは人のためならずと言うからね。
Let's be kind to others, because kindness eventually returns to you.
早起きは三文の徳
Pronunciation: hayaoki wa sanmon no toku
Literal Translation:"waking up early is worth three mon"
Meaning:The early bird catches the worm; waking up early brings benefits.
朝早く起きて勉強するとはかどる。早起きは三文の徳だ。
Studying early in the morning is productive; the early bird catches the worm.
可愛い子には旅をさせよ
Pronunciation: kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo
Literal Translation:"send the beloved child on a journey"
Meaning:Spare the rod and spoil the child; children should experience hardships to grow strong.
若いうちの大変な経験は薬だ。可愛い子には旅をさせよというだろう。
Difficult experiences when young are medicine; send your beloved child on a journey.
馬耳東風
Pronunciation: baji tōfū
Literal Translation:"east wind in a horse's ear"
Meaning:Utter indifference; ignoring advice completely.
いくら注意しても、彼は馬耳東風で聞き流している。
No matter how much I warn him, it goes in one ear and out the other.
月とすっぽん
Pronunciation: tsuki to suppon
Literal Translation:"the moon and a soft-shelled turtle"
Meaning:As different as night and day; chalk and cheese.
彼の二つの作品の質は、月とすっぽんだ。
The quality of his two works is as different as night and day.
雀の涙
Pronunciation: suzume no namida
Literal Translation:"a sparrow's tears"
Meaning:A drop in the bucket; a very tiny, insignificant amount of money or resources.
今年のボーナスは雀の涙ほどだった。
This year's bonus was just a drop in the bucket.
猫の手も借りたい
Pronunciation: neko no te mo karitai
Literal Translation:"wanting to borrow even a cat's paws"
Meaning:Extremely busy; needing any help one can get.
引越し作業が忙しくて、猫の手も借りたいほどだ。
The moving work is so busy, we could use any help we can get.
どんぐりの背比べ
Pronunciation: donguri no sekurabe
Literal Translation:"acorns comparing their height"
Meaning:All of them are average and there is no outstanding one.
彼らのアイデアはどれも平凡で、どんぐりの背比べだ。
Their ideas are all mediocre, just acorns comparing their height.
三人寄れば文殊の知恵
Pronunciation: sannin yoreba monju no chie
Literal Translation:"three people gathering brings the wisdom of Monju"
Meaning:Two heads are better than one; group discussion yields better ideas.
皆でアイデアを出し合おう。三人寄れば文殊の知恵と言うから。
Let's brainstorm together. Two heads are better than one.
朱に交われば赤くなる
Pronunciation: shu ni majiwareba akaku naru
Literal Translation:"mix with vermilion and you will turn red"
Meaning:You are influenced by your companions; you are the company you keep.
悪い友達と付き合って成績が落ちた。まさに朱に交われば赤くだ。
Hanging out with bad friends caused his grades to drop; you are the company you keep.
目の中に入れても痛くない
Pronunciation: me no naka ni irete mo itakunai
Literal Translation:"it would not hurt even if put in the eye"
Meaning:The apple of one's eye; to dote on someone with extreme affection.
初孫が生まれた。目の中に入れても痛くないほど可愛い。
My first grandchild was born; she is the absolute apple of my eye.
弱肉強食
Pronunciation: jaku niku kyō shoku
Literal Translation:"the weak are meat, the strong eat"
Meaning:Survival of the fittest; law of the jungle.
ビジネスの世界は弱肉強食で、厳しい競争が続いている。
The business world is the survival of the fittest, with fierce competition.
自業自得
Pronunciation: jigō jitoku
Literal Translation:"one's own work, one's own reward"
Meaning:Reap what you sow; getting the bad results of one's own actions.
勉強せずに試験に落ちたのは、自業自得だ。
Failing the exam because you didn't study is reaping what you sowed.
他山の石
Pronunciation: tazan no ishi
Literal Translation:"a stone from another mountain"
Meaning:Learning from other people's mistakes; using others' faults as a lesson.
他社の不祥事を他山の石として、我が社も管理を徹底しよう。
Let's learn from the other company's scandal and tighten our own management.
猫をかぶる
Pronunciation: neko o kaburu
Literal Translation:"to wear a cat"
Meaning:To play innocent or gentle; wolf in sheep's clothing.
彼女は彼の前では猫をかぶっているが、本当は気が強い。
She plays gentle in front of him, but actually she is strong-willed.
蛇足
Pronunciation: dasoku
Literal Translation:"snake legs"
Meaning:A superfluous addition; unnecessary extra detail that ruins the balance.
完璧なスピーチだったのに、最後の冗談は蛇足だった。
It was a perfect speech, but the final joke was unnecessary.
明日は明日の風が吹く
Pronunciation: ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku
Literal Translation:"tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow"
Meaning:Tomorrow is another day; don't worry too much about the future.
くよくよ考えても仕方がない。明日は明日の風が吹くだ。
It's no use worrying; tomorrow is another day.
瓜二つ
Pronunciation: uri futatsu
Literal Translation:"two halves of a melon"
Meaning:Like two peas in a pod; identical appearance.
あの双子は本当に瓜二つで見分けがつかない。
Those twins are like two peas in a pod, I can't tell them apart.
眉唾物
Pronunciation: mayutsubamono
Literal Translation:"saliva-on-eyebrow thing"
Meaning:Something suspicious, questionable, or unlikely to be true.
彼の「絶対に儲かる」という話は、どう考えても眉唾物だ。
His talk about 'guaranteed profit' is highly suspicious.
口が軽い
Pronunciation: kuchi ga karui
Literal Translation:"light mouth"
Meaning:Loose-lipped; unable to keep secrets.
彼女は口が軽いから、秘密は教えない方がいい。
She is loose-lipped, so you shouldn't tell her secrets.
耳にたこができる
Pronunciation: mimi ni tako ga dekiru
Literal Translation:"to get calluses on one's ears"
Meaning:To be sick and tired of hearing the same thing repeatedly.
母から「早く片付けなさい」と耳にたこができるほど言われた。
I've heard my mother say 'clean up quickly' so many times I got calluses on my ears.
棚上げ
Pronunciation: tanaage
Literal Translation:"putting on a shelf"
Meaning:Shelving a problem; ignoring one's own faults while pointing out others'.
自分の遅刻を棚上げして、他人の遅刻を怒るのはずるい。
It's unfair to overlook your own lateness while getting angry at others.
首を長くする
Pronunciation: kubi o nagaku suru
Literal Translation:"to make one's neck long"
Meaning:To look forward to something with eager anticipation.
子供たちはサンタクロースが来るのを首を長くして待っている。
The children are looking forward to Santa Claus coming with long necks.
骨折り損のくたびれ儲け
Pronunciation: honeorizon no kutabire mōke
Literal Translation:"loss of effort and gain of fatigue"
Meaning:Great effort for no reward; a waste of time and energy.
一日中探し回ったのに財布は見つからず、骨折り損のくたびれ儲けだった。
I searched all day but didn't find my wallet, it was a total waste of energy.
喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる
Pronunciation: nodomoto sugireba atsusa o wasureru
Literal Translation:"once it passes the throat, the heat is forgotten"
Meaning:People easily forget past hardships once they are safely over.
病気が治ると不摂生な生活に戻ってしまうのは、喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れるだね。
Returning to an unhealthy lifestyle after recovering is forgetting the heat once it passes the throat.
仏の顔も三度まで
Pronunciation: hotoke no kao mo sando made
Literal Translation:"even Buddha's face only up to three times"
Meaning:There is a limit to anyone's patience; three strikes and you're out.
何度も約束を破られたら腹が立つ。仏の顔も三度までだ。
If you break promises repeatedly, I'll get angry; patience has its limits.
青天の霹靂
Pronunciation: seiten no hekireki
Literal Translation:"a bolt from the blue sky"
Meaning:A bolt from the blue; a sudden and completely unexpected event.
会社が突然倒産したというニュースは、まさに青天の霹靂だった。
The news of the sudden bankruptcy of the company was a bolt from the blue.
馬脚を現す
Pronunciation: bakyaku o arawasu
Literal Translation:"to reveal the horse's legs"
Meaning:To show one's true colors; to reveal a hidden weakness or deceit.
うそをついていた彼は、ついに質問攻めに遭って馬脚を現した。
Lying, he was finally questioned closely and showed his true colors.
七転八倒
Pronunciation: shichiten battō
Literal Translation:"falling seven times and struggling eight times"
Meaning:Writhing in extreme pain or agony; rolling and struggling.
虫歯の痛みで一晩中七転八倒した。
I writhed in agony all night due to toothache pain.
百里の道も九十里を半ばとす
Pronunciation: hyakuri no michi mo kyūjūri o nakaba to su
Literal Translation:"on a hundred-mile road, ninety miles is only halfway"
Meaning:The last part of any task is the most difficult; do not relax until the job is fully done.
プロジェクトがほぼ完成しても油断するな。百里の道も九十里を半ばとすだ。
Don't relax even when the project is almost finished; the last part is the hardest.
一石二鳥
Pronunciation: isseki nichō
Literal Translation:"one stone, two birds"
Meaning:Killing two birds with one stone; achieving two things with a single action.
駅の近くに行くついでに買い物もすれば、一石二鳥だ。
If I do some shopping while going near the station, it will kill two birds with one stone.
猫に小判
Pronunciation: neko ni koban
Literal Translation:"gold coins to a cat"
Meaning:Giving something of value to someone who cannot appreciate it; pearls before swine.
彼に高価な本をプレゼントしても猫に小判だ。
Giving him an expensive book is like casting pearls before swine.
花より団子
Pronunciation: hana yori dango
Literal Translation:"dumplings rather than flowers"
Meaning:Preferring practical, useful items over beautiful or decorative ones.
美術館に行くよりもおいしいものを食べたい、まさに花より団子だ。
I'd rather eat good food than go to an art museum, it's really dumplings over flowers.
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず
Pronunciation: kōketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu
Literal Translation:"if you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch the tiger's cub"
Meaning:Nothing ventured, nothing gained; you must take risks to achieve success.
成功するかは分からないが、虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ずの精神で挑戦する。
I don't know if I'll succeed, but I'll try with the spirit of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.
三日坊主
Pronunciation: mikka bōzu
Literal Translation:"a three-day monk"
Meaning:Someone who gives up easily; lack of perseverance.
日記を書き始めたが、三日坊主に終わってしまった。
I started writing a diary, but it ended up lasting only three days.
石の上にも三年
Pronunciation: ishi no ue ni mo sannen
Literal Translation:"three years on top of a stone"
Meaning:Perseverance prevails; patience is a virtue that leads to eventual success.
辛い仕事だが、石の上にも三年と思って続けよう。
It's a tough job, but I'll keep going, believing that patience eventually pays off.
百聞は一見に如かず
Pronunciation: hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu
Literal Translation:"hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once"
Meaning:Seeing is believing; one firsthand experience is worth more than hearing about it many times.
その景色の美しさは、百聞は一見に如かずです。
The beauty of that scenery is something you have to see to believe.
急がば回れ
Pronunciation: isogaba maware
Literal Translation:"if you are in a hurry, go around"
Meaning:Haste makes waste; the longest way round is the shortest way home.
近道は危険だから、急がば回れで大通りを行こう。
The shortcut is dangerous, so let's take the main street; haste makes waste.
口は災いの元
Pronunciation: kuchi wa wazawai no moto
Literal Translation:"the mouth is the source of disaster"
Meaning:Careless words can lead to serious trouble; speak no evil.
余計なことを言って怒らせてしまった。まさに口は災いの元だ。
I said too much and made them angry. Truly, the mouth is the source of disaster.
塵も積もれば山となる
Pronunciation: chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru
Literal Translation:"even dust, if accumulated, becomes a mountain"
Meaning:Small efforts add up to great results over time; many a little makes a mickle.
毎日５分勉強するだけでも、塵も積もれば山となる。
Even studying for just 5 minutes every day adds up over time.
雨降って地固まる
Pronunciation: ame futte ji katamaru
Literal Translation:"after rain, the ground hardens"
Meaning:Adversity builds character; relations become stronger after a dispute or crisis.
大喧嘩のあとで仲直りした二人は、雨降って地固まるの通りになった。
After a huge fight, the two reconciled, proving that rain hardens the ground.
灯台下暗し
Pronunciation: tōdai moto kurashi
Literal Translation:"it is dark at the foot of the lighthouse"
Meaning:It is hard to see what is right under your nose; people often overlook what is close to them.
失くした鍵が目の前にあった。まさに灯台下暗しだ。
The lost keys were right in front of me. It's truly dark under the lighthouse.
豚に真珠
Pronunciation: buta ni shinju
Literal Translation:"pearls to pigs"
Meaning:Giving beautiful or valuable things to people who do not appreciate their worth.
彼にクラシック音楽のチケットをあげても、豚に真珠だ。
Giving him classical music concert tickets is like throwing pearls to pigs.
捕らぬ狸の皮算用
Pronunciation: toranu tanuki no kawazanyō
Literal Translation:"counting raccoon dog pelts before they are caught"
Meaning:Don't count your chickens before they hatch; planning based on unconfirmed success.
まだ契約していないのに利益の話をするのは、捕らぬ狸の皮算用だ。
Talking about profits before signing the contract is counting raccoon dog pelts.
弘法にも筆の誤り
Pronunciation: kōbō ni mo fude no ayamari
Literal Translation:"even Kōbō made brush slips"
Meaning:Even the greatest experts can make mistakes; nobody is perfect.
あの優秀なプログラマーがバグを出した。弘法にも筆の誤りだね。
That brilliant programmer made a bug. Even Kōbō slips with the brush.
知らぬが仏
Pronunciation: shiranu ga hotoke
Literal Translation:"not knowing is Buddha"
Meaning:Ignorance is bliss; not knowing the truth can keep a person at peace.
真実を伝えないほうがいいこともある、知らぬが仏だ。
Sometimes it's better not to tell the truth; ignorance is bliss.
論より証拠
Pronunciation: ron yori shōko
Literal Translation:"proof rather than argument"
Meaning:Actions speak louder than words; facts are more convincing than explanations.
言い訳をするよりも、結果を出すことだ。論より証拠だ。
Instead of making excuses, show results. Proof speaks louder than argument.
悪因悪果
Pronunciation: akuin akka
Literal Translation:"bad cause, bad effect"
Meaning:Reap what you sow; bad deeds bring bad consequences.
うそをつき続けた結果、誰にも信用されなくなった。まさに悪因悪果だ。
After constantly lying, nobody trusts him anymore. He reaped what he sowed.
笑う門には福来たる
Pronunciation: warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru
Literal Translation:"fortune comes to the gate of those who laugh"
Meaning:Good fortune comes to those who keep a cheerful attitude.
いつも笑顔を忘れずにいれば、笑う門には福来たるだ。
If we don't forget to smile, good fortune will come to us.
七転び八起き
Pronunciation: nana korobi ya oki
Literal Translation:"fall down seven times, stand up eight"
Meaning:To persevere and never give up; to get back on one's feet after a failure.
何度も失敗したが、七転び八起きの精神で挑戦を続け、ついに成功した。
He failed many times, but kept trying with the spirit of falling down seven times and standing up eight, and finally succeeded.
能ある鷹は爪を隠す
Pronunciation: [nou aru taka wa tsume o kakusu]
Literal Translation:"The talented hawk hides its talons"
Meaning:A person who is truly talented or wise does not show off; empty vessels make the most noise.
彼は実は英語が堪能だが、能ある鷹は爪を隠すというように、普段は決して自慢しない。
He is actually fluent in English, but as they say, 'a skilled hawk hides its talons', he never brags about it.
犬猿の仲
Pronunciation: [ken'en no naka]
Literal Translation:"Dog and monkey relationship"
Meaning:Like cats and dogs; at daggers drawn; a very bad relationship.
あの二人は昔から犬猿の仲だ。
Those two have been like cats and dogs since the old days.
馬の耳に念仏
Pronunciation: [uma no mimi ni nenbutsu]
Literal Translation:"Praying to a horse's ear"
Meaning:Pearls before swine; preaching to the wind; advice that has no effect.
彼にいくら注意しても、馬の耳に念仏だ。
No matter how much you warn him, it is like preaching to the wind.
猫の額
Pronunciation: [neko no hitai]
Literal Translation:"Cat's forehead"
Meaning:A very small or tiny area of land or space.
我が家の庭は猫の額ほどの広さしかない。
Our garden is only as big as a cat's forehead.
雀百まで踊り忘れず
Pronunciation: [suzume hyaku made odori wasurezu]
Literal Translation:"A sparrow doesn't forget its dance until a hundred"
Meaning:Habits acquired in youth remain for life; what is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.
彼が未だにその癖を直せないのは、雀百まで踊り忘れずということだ。
The fact that he still cannot correct that habit shows that what is learned in youth stays with you.
亀の甲より年の功
Pronunciation: [kame no kou yori toshi no kou]
Literal Translation:"Better than a tortoise's shell is the wisdom of age"
Meaning:Older people have wisdom gained from years of experience, which is highly valuable.
困ったときは祖父に相談するのが一番だ。亀の甲より年の功だからね。
When in trouble, it's best to consult grandfather. Wisdom comes with age, after all.
水に流す
Pronunciation: [mizu ni namasu]
Literal Translation:"To let flow in the water"
Meaning:To forgive and forget; to let bygones be bygones; to clear the slate.
過去のいざこざは水に流そうではないか。
Why don't we let the past conflicts flow down the water?
手を焼く
Pronunciation: [te o yaku]
Literal Translation:"To burn one's hands"
Meaning:To have difficulty with; to be at a loss with; to find someone or something hard to handle.
いたずら好きな息子には本当に手を焼いている。
I am really at a loss with my mischievous son.
目から鱗が落ちる
Pronunciation: [me kara uroko ga ochiru]
Literal Translation:"Scales fall from the eyes"
Meaning:To suddenly see the light; to have an eye-opening experience; to realize the truth.
彼の説明を聞いて、目から鱗が落ちる思いだった。
Hearing his explanation was an eye-opening experience for me.
頭が上がらない
Pronunciation: [atama ga agaranai]
Literal Translation:"Cannot raise one's head"
Meaning:To be no match for someone; to feel subordinate or deeply indebted to someone.
妻には頭が上がらない。
I cannot raise my head against my wife.
箸にも棒にもかからない
Pronunciation: [hashi ni mo bou ni mo kakaranai]
Literal Translation:"Neither catches with chopsticks nor clings with a stick"
Meaning:Completely hopeless; useless; of no value whatsoever.
彼の書いたレポートは箸にも棒にもかからない。
The report he wrote is completely hopeless.
焼け石に水
Pronunciation: [yakeishi ni mizu]
Literal Translation:"Water on hot stone"
Meaning:A drop in the bucket; a futile effort that is not nearly enough to help.
いくらか援助しても、借金が多すぎて焼け石に水だ。
Even with some aid, the debt is too large, so it's just a drop in the bucket.
瓢箪から駒
Pronunciation: [hyoutan kara koma]
Literal Translation:"A horse from a gourd"
Meaning:Something completely unexpected happening; truth coming out of a joke.
冗談で言ったアイデアが採用されてヒットするなんて、まさに瓢箪から駒だ。
The idea I suggested as a joke was accepted and became a hit—it was completely unexpected.
青菜に塩
Pronunciation: [aona ni shio]
Literal Translation:"Salt on green vegetables"
Meaning:Dejected, depressed, or drooping due to a sudden shock or failure.
テストに落ちて、彼は青菜に塩のようになっている。
Failing the test, he has been looking completely dejected and down.
藪から棒
Pronunciation: [yabu kara bou]
Literal Translation:"A stick out of the woods"
Meaning:Out of the blue; suddenly and unexpectedly.
藪から棒にそんな質問をされても困る。
I am troubled by being asked such a question so out of the blue.
ごまをする
Pronunciation: [goma o suru]
Literal Translation:"To grind sesame"
Meaning:To flatter someone; to butter someone up; to curry favor.
彼は上司に気に入られようと、いつもごまをすっている。
He is always buttering up the boss to get in his good graces.
朝飯前
Pronunciation: [asameshimae]
Literal Translation:"Before breakfast"
Meaning:A piece of cake; extremely easy; something that can be done in no time.
そんなことなら、朝飯前だ。
If it's that kind of thing, it's a piece of cake.
口を酸っぱくする
Pronunciation: [kuchi o suppaku suru]
Literal Translation:"To make one's mouth sour"
Meaning:To repeat warnings or advice over and over again; to hammer something home.
早く宿題をするように口を酸っぱくして言った。
I repeated over and over again that he should do his homework quickly.
耳が痛い
Pronunciation: [mimi ga itai]
Literal Translation:"Ears hurt"
Meaning:Hearing the painful truth; finding criticisms hard to listen to.
先生の注意は、自分にも当てはまることばかりで耳が痛い。
The teacher's warnings all apply to me, so it's painful to hear.
足元を見る
Pronunciation: [ashimoto o miru]
Literal Translation:"To look at someone's feet"
Meaning:To take advantage of someone's weakness or difficult situation.
彼は相手の弱みにつけ込んで、足元を見るような取引を持ちかけた。
He took advantage of the other party's weakness and offered a deal that exploited them.
猿も木から落ちる
Pronunciation: さるもきからおちる / saru mo ki kara ochiru
Literal Translation:"Even monkeys fall from trees"
Meaning:Anyone can make a mistake; even experts fail sometimes.
彼のようなベテランが間違うなんて、まさに猿も木から落ちるだね。
For a veteran like him to make a mistake, it really shows that even monkeys fall from trees.
百発百中
Pronunciation: ひゃっぱつひゃくちゅう / hyappatsu hyakuchū
Literal Translation:"Hundred shots, hundred hits"
Meaning:Hitting the bullseye every time; always successful / infallible.
彼の天気予報は百発百中だ。
His weather forecasts are always spot on.
一刀両断
Pronunciation: いっとうりょうだん / ittō ryōdan
Literal Translation:"Cutting in two with one stroke of a sword"
Meaning:Taking swift, decisive action to resolve a problem.
社長はその問題を一刀両断に解決した。
The president resolved the issue with one decisive action.
八方美人
Pronunciation: はっぽうびじん / happō bijin
Literal Translation:"A beauty from all eight directions"
Meaning:A person who tries to please everybody / a fence-sitter.
彼は誰にでもいい顔をする八方美人だ。
He is an everybody's friend who tries to please everyone.
以心伝心
Pronunciation: いしんでんしん / ishin denshin
Literal Translation:"Communicating heart to heart"
Meaning:Heart-to-heart communication; understanding each other without words.
私たちは以心伝心の仲だ。
We understand each other perfectly without needing words.
大同小異
Pronunciation: だいどうしょうい / daidō shōi
Literal Translation:"Great similarity, small difference"
Meaning:Substantially the same with only minor differences.
二人の意見は大同小異だ。
The opinions of the two are basically the same.
十人十色
Pronunciation: じゅうにんといろ / jūnin toiro
Literal Translation:"Ten people, ten colors"
Meaning:To each their own; tastes and opinions differ from person to person.
人の好みは十人十色だから、全員を満足させるのは難しい。
Tastes differ from person to person, so it is difficult to satisfy everyone.
猪突猛進
Pronunciation: ちょとつもうしん / chototsu mōshin
Literal Translation:"Rushing headlong like a wild boar"
Meaning:Rushing headlong; acting recklessly without considering consequences.
彼は目標に向かって猪突猛進するタイプだ。
He is the type of person who rushes headlong toward his goal.
一日千秋
Pronunciation: いちじつせんしゅう / ichijitsu senshū
Literal Translation:"One day feels like a thousand autumns"
Meaning:Waiting impatiently; a day feels like an eternity.
彼女からの返事を一日千秋の思いで待っている。
I am waiting for her reply with great impatience.
温故知新
Pronunciation: おんこちしん / onko chishin
Literal Translation:"Warming up the old to know the new"
Meaning:Learning from history and past experiences to find new ideas and values.
温故知新の精神で、伝統工芸に新しい技術を取り入れる。
In the spirit of learning from the past, we incorporate new technologies into traditional crafts.
呉越同舟
Pronunciation: ごえつどうしゅう / goetsu dōshū
Literal Translation:"Wu and Yue in the same boat"
Meaning:Bitter enemies finding themselves in the same boat, cooperating for a common goal.
非常事態だから、呉越同舟で協力しよう。
Since this is an emergency, let's cooperate despite being rivals.
一長一短
Pronunciation: いっちょういったん / icchō ittan
Literal Translation:"One merit, one demerit"
Meaning:Something that has both advantages and disadvantages; a mixed blessing.
どのシステムにも一長一短がある。
Every system has its own advantages and disadvantages.
因果応報
Pronunciation: いんがおうほう / inga ōhō
Literal Translation:"Cause brings result, deed brings reward"
Meaning:Retribution; karma; what goes around comes around.
悪いことをすれば、いずれ因果応報がある。
If you do bad things, karma will eventually catch up with you.
我田引水
Pronunciation: がでんいんすい / gaden insui
Literal Translation:"Drawing water to one's own field"
Meaning:Self-serving behavior; interpreting or arranging things to benefit oneself.
彼の説明は我田引水で、信用できない。
His explanation is self-serving and cannot be trusted.
本末転倒
Pronunciation: ほんまつてんとう / honmatsu tentō
Literal Translation:"Mistaking the root for the branch"
Meaning:Putting the cart before the horse; confusing the means with the end.
健康のために薬を飲みすぎて病気になるなんて、本末転倒だ。
Getting sick from taking too many medicines for your health is putting the cart before the horse.
悪戦苦闘
Pronunciation: あくせんくとう / akusen kutō
Literal Translation:"Hard fight and bitter struggle"
Meaning:Fighting against heavy odds; struggling desperately through a difficult task.
新しい仕事の対応に悪戦苦闘している。
I am struggling desperately to keep up with the new job.
朝三暮四
Pronunciation: ちょうさんぼし / chōsan boshi
Literal Translation:"Three in the morning, four in the evening"
Meaning:Deceiving someone by making superficial changes without any actual difference.
給与体系の変更は、結局のところ朝三暮四に過ぎない。
The change in the salary structure is, after all, just a superficial trick.
臨機応変
Pronunciation: りんきおうへん / rinki ōhen
Literal Translation:"Adapting to situations and changes"
Meaning:Playing it by ear; adapting to changing circumstances flexibly.
トラブルが発生したときは、臨機応変に対応することが求められる。
When trouble arises, we are required to play it by ear.
千差万別
Pronunciation: せんさばんべつ / sensa banbetsu
Literal Translation:"Thousand differences, ten thousand varieties"
Meaning:Infinite variety; all shapes and sizes.
人々の価値観は千差万別だ。
People's values come in infinite varieties.
絶体絶命
Pronunciation: ぜったいぜつめい / zettai zetsumei
Literal Translation:"Absolute command, desperate fate"
Meaning:Desperate situation; cornered; no way out.
会社は資金不足で絶体絶命の危機に瀕している。
Due to a lack of funds, the company is in a desperate crisis.
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
Pronunciation: i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu
Literal Translation:"A frog in a well knows nothing of the great ocean"
Meaning:People with limited experience or perspective judge things based on their narrow view.
彼は自分の会社しか知らないので、井の中の蛙大海を知らずのようになっている。
Because he only knows his own company, he is like a frog in a well that knows nothing of the ocean.
ちりも積もれば山となる
Pronunciation: chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru
Literal Translation:"Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain"
Meaning:Many a mickle makes a muckle; small efforts accumulate to make a big difference.
毎日少しずつ貯金すれば、ちりも積もれば山となるで大きな額になる。
If you save a little money every day, it will accumulate into a large amount.
聞いて極楽見て地獄
Pronunciation: kiite gokuraku mite jigoku
Literal Translation:"Hearing is heaven, seeing is hell"
Meaning:Something that sounds wonderful in description but is terrible in reality.
楽なアルバイトだと思って行ってみたら、聞いて極楽見て地獄の労働環境だった。
I went there thinking it was an easy part-time job, but it was heaven in description and hell in reality.
棚からぼたもち
Pronunciation: tana kara botamochi
Literal Translation:"A sweet rice cake falling from a shelf"
Meaning:A windfall; a stroke of unexpected good luck without making any effort.
宝くじに当たったのは、まさに棚からぼたもちだ。
Winning the lottery was a complete windfall.
手前味噌
Pronunciation: temae miso
Literal Translation:"One's own miso"
Meaning:Singing one's own praises; self-flattery; bragging.
手前味噌ですが、この料理はとても美味しくできました。
Not to blow my own trumpet, but this dish turned out very delicious.
油を売る
Pronunciation: abura o uru
Literal Translation:"To sell oil"
Meaning:To idle away time; to loaf / waste time during work.
仕事中に油を売っていると上司に怒られますよ。
If you waste time during work, you will get scolded by your boss.
百聞は一見にしかず
Pronunciation: hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu
Literal Translation:"A hundred hearings is not equal to one seeing"
Meaning:Seeing is believing; one look is worth a thousand words.
写真で見るより実際に行く方がいい、百聞は一見にしかずだ。
It's better to go in person than to look at photos; seeing is believing.
負けるが勝ち
Pronunciation: makeru ga kachi
Literal Translation:"To lose is to win"
Meaning:Sometimes yielding or losing in the short term is the smartest way to win in the end.
無駄な争いを避けて相手に譲るのも、負けるが勝ちだ。
Avoiding useless arguments and yielding to the opponent is also a form of winning.
失敗は成功の母
Pronunciation: shippai wa seikou no haha
Literal Translation:"Failure is the mother of success"
Meaning:Failure is a learning experience that leads to future success.
一度失敗したからといって諦めるな、失敗は成功の母だ。
Don't give up just because you failed once; failure is the mother of success.
人の振り見て我が振り直せ
Pronunciation: hito no furi mite waga furi naose
Literal Translation:"Watch others' behavior and correct your own"
Meaning:Use the mistakes or behaviors of others as a mirror to correct your own actions.
同僚の失礼な態度を反面教師にして、人の振り見て我が振り直せを心掛けた。
Using the colleague's rude attitude as a lesson, I tried to correct my own behavior.
良薬は口に苦し
Pronunciation: ryouyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi
Literal Translation:"Good medicine is bitter to the mouth"
Meaning:Good advice is often hard to accept or hear, just as good medicine tastes bitter.
厳しい批評だが、良薬は口に苦しと思って受け入れよう。
It is harsh criticism, but let's accept it knowing that good advice is often hard to swallow.
濡れ手で粟
Pronunciation: nurete de awa
Literal Translation:"Millet with wet hands"
Meaning:To make easy money or profit without making much effort.
あの投資で濡れ手で粟のような利益を得た人がたくさんいる。
There are many people who made easy money from that investment.
蛇の道は蛇
Pronunciation: ja no michi wa hebi
Literal Translation:"The path of a snake is known to snakes"
Meaning:Like knows like; experts in a field know the methods and tricks of their peers.
専門的な問題については、やはり蛇の道は蛇でプロに任せるべきだ。
For technical problems, we should leave it to professionals, as like knows like.
病は気から
Pronunciation: yama wa ki kara
Literal Translation:"Illness comes from the mind"
Meaning:Health starts in the mind; physical illness is heavily influenced by one's mental state.
前向きに考えていれば風邪も早く治るよ、病は気からだからね。
If you think positively, your cold will cure quickly, as health starts in the mind.
藪をつついて蛇を出す
Pronunciation: yabu o tsutsute hebi o dasu
Literal Translation:"To poke a bush and bring out a snake"
Meaning:To bring trouble on oneself by initiating unnecessary actions; let sleeping dogs lie.
余計な質問をして上司を怒らせたのは、まさに藪をつついて蛇を出すだ。
Asking unnecessary questions and making the boss angry was like letting sleeping dogs lie.
頭隠して尻隠さず
Pronunciation: atama kakushite shiri kakusazu
Literal Translation:"Hiding the head but not the tail"
Meaning:Covering up a fault or crime partially while leaving obvious clues; ostrich policy.
うそをついても証拠が残っているよ、頭隠して尻隠さずだ。
Even if you lie, the evidence remains; you hid your head but left your tail exposed.
二の足を踏む
Pronunciation: ni no ashi o fumu
Literal Translation:"To take a second step / hesitate"
Meaning:To hesitate; to have second thoughts; to shrink back in fear or doubt.
高額な契約なので、サインするのに二の足を踏んでしまった。
Since it was an expensive contract, I hesitated to sign it.
目に入れても痛くない
Pronunciation: me ni irete mo itakunai
Literal Translation:"It does not hurt even if put in the eye"
Meaning:To dote on someone; to love someone so much they can do no wrong; apple of one's eye.
祖父にとって初孫は、目に入れても痛くない存在だ。
For grandfather, the first grandchild is the apple of his eye.
虎の威を借る狐
Pronunciation: tora no i o karu kitsune
Literal Translation:"A fox borrowing the authority of a tiger"
Meaning:A weak person who acts powerful by relying on the influence of someone strong.
親の威光を背景に威張っている彼は、まさに虎の威を借る狐だ。
He acts big because of his parents' influence; he is just like a fox borrowing a tiger's power.
元の鞘に収まる
Pronunciation: moto no saya ni osamaru
Literal Translation:"To return to the original sheath"
Meaning:To reconcile; to make up after a breakup or disagreement (especially lovers).
離婚の噂があった二人は、結局元の鞘に収まった。
The two who were rumored to divorce ended up reconciling.
相身互い
Pronunciation: [aɪmi taɡaɪ]
Literal Translation:"Mutual sympathy/helping each other"
Meaning:People in the same situation should show mutual sympathy and support each other.
困ったときはお互い様、相身互いですよ。
When in trouble we help each other, it's mutual sympathy.
足が出る
Pronunciation: [aɕi ɡa deɾɯ]
Literal Translation:"Legs come out / stick out"
Meaning:To go over budget; to exceed expenses.
旅行の費用が予想より多くて足が出た。
The travel expenses were more than expected, and we went over budget.
油を注ぐ
Pronunciation: [abɯɾa o sosoɡɯ]
Literal Translation:"To pour oil"
Meaning:To pour oil on the fire; to make a bad situation worse or fan the flames of anger.
彼の無駄な一言が怒りに油を注いだ。
His useless remark poured oil on the fire of anger.
雨だれ石を穿つ
Pronunciation: [amadaɾe iɕi o ɯɡat͡sɯ]
Literal Translation:"Raindrops penetrate the stone"
Meaning:Constant effort can overcome any obstacle; constant dripping wears away the stone.
毎日少しずつ勉強すれば、雨だれ石を穿つように合格できる。
If you study a little every day, you will pass, just as dripping water wears away stone.
案ずるより産むが易し
Pronunciation: [and͡zɯɾɯ joɾi ɯmɯ ɡa jaɕiɕi]
Literal Translation:"Giving birth is easier than worrying about it"
Meaning:Things are often easier than you expect; fear is worse than the reality.
テストは心配だったが、案ずるより産むが易しで簡単にできた。
I was worried about the test, but it was easier than expected.
一難去ってまた一難
Pronunciation: [it͡ɕinan satte mata it͡ɕinan]
Literal Translation:"One trouble leaves, and another trouble arrives"
Meaning:Out of the frying pan into the fire; one trouble after another.
風邪が治ったと思ったら怪我をして、一難去ってまた一難だ。
Just as I thought I recovered from the cold, I got injured; it's one trouble after another.
一暴十寒
Pronunciation: [it͡ɕibakɯ d͡ʑikkan]
Literal Translation:"One day of warmth, ten days of cold"
Meaning:Working hard for a short time and then neglecting it; working by fits and starts.
毎日勉強しなければ、一暴十寒で効果がない。
If you don't study every day, working by fits and starts won't show results.
医者の不養生
Pronunciation: [iɕa no fɯjoːd͡ʑoː]
Literal Translation:"A doctor's neglect of health"
Meaning:Practicing the opposite of what one preaches; the cobbler's children go barefoot.
野菜を食べるように言う彼が肉ばかり食べるのは、まさに医者の不養生だ。
He tells us to eat vegetables but eats only meat — he is just like a barefoot cobbler.
うわさをすれば影が差す
Pronunciation: [ɯwasa o sɯɾeba kaɡe ɡa sasɯ]
Literal Translation:"Speak of rumors and a shadow appears"
Meaning:Speak of the devil (and he shall appear).
田中さんの話をしていたら本人が来た。うわさをすれば影が差すね。
We were talking about Tanaka and he came. Speak of the devil.
魚の目に水見えず
Pronunciation: [ɯono me ni mizɯ miezɯ]
Literal Translation:"Water is invisible to the eyes of fish"
Meaning:We often take for granted or fail to notice the things closest to us.
自分の身近な幸せに気づかないのは、魚の目に水見えずだ。
Failing to notice the happiness around you is like fish not seeing water.
海千山千
Pronunciation: [ɯmisen jamasen]
Literal Translation:"Ocean thousand, mountain thousand"
Meaning:An old fox; a sly, experienced, and shrewd person.
あの取引相手は海千山千だから、注意したほうがいい。
That business partner is an old fox, so we should be careful.
えびで鯛を釣る
Pronunciation: [ebi de taɪ o tsɯɾɯ]
Literal Translation:"To fish a sea bream with a shrimp"
Meaning:To get a big profit or return from a very small investment.
安いプレゼントで豪華なお返しをもらい、えびで鯛を釣った。
I got a luxurious return gift for a cheap present — caught a whale with a sprat.
鬼に金棒
Pronunciation: [oni ni kanaboː]
Literal Translation:"A metal club for an ogre/demon"
Meaning:Making the strong even stronger; double strength.
彼がチームに加われば、まさに鬼に金棒だ。
If he joins our team, we will be unstoppable.
折り紙付き
Pronunciation: [oɾiɡamit͡sɯki]
Literal Translation:"With folded paper (attestation)"
Meaning:Guaranteed, certified, or established reputation.
彼の料理の腕前は折り紙付きだ。
His cooking skills are guaranteed to be excellent.
風の便り
Pronunciation: [kaze no tajoɾi]
Literal Translation:"News from the wind"
Meaning:A little bird told me; a rumor from an unknown source.
風の便りで、彼が結婚したと聞いた。
A little bird told me that he got married.
机上の空論
Pronunciation: [kiʑoː no kɯːɾon]
Literal Translation:"Empty theory on the desk"
Meaning:Armchair theory; a plan that sounds good on paper but is impractical in reality.
その計画は素晴らしいが、机上の空論にすぎない。
That plan is wonderful, but it is just an armchair theory.
怪我の功名
Pronunciation: [keɡa no koːmjoː]
Literal Translation:"Fame from an injury"
Meaning:A lucky mistake; a blessing in disguise; success coming out of a failure.
道を間違えたら偶然いい店を見つけた。怪我の功名だ。
We took the wrong turn but found a great restaurant by chance — a blessing in disguise.
郷に入っては郷に従え
Pronunciation: [ɡoː ni itte wa ɡoː ni ɕitaɡae]
Literal Translation:"Enter the village, follow the village"
Meaning:When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
海外生活では、郷に入っては郷に従うことが大切だ。
When living abroad, it is important to do as the locals do.
弘法筆を選ばず
Pronunciation: [koːboː fɯde o eɾabazɯ]
Literal Translation:"Kobo does not choose his brush"
Meaning:A master can work with any tool; a good workman does not quarrel with his tools.
彼は安物のカメラでも素晴らしい写真を撮る。弘法筆を選ばずだね。
He takes beautiful photos even with a cheap camera — a true master doesn't complain about tools.
初心忘るべからず
Pronunciation: [ɕoɕin wasɯɾɯ bekaɾazɯ]
Literal Translation:"Do not forget your beginner's spirit"
Meaning:Never forget your original humility and enthusiasm when you started out.
プロになっても、初心忘るべからずの気持ちで練習を続ける。
Even after turning professional, I continue to practice with my original beginner's spirit.
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