Hope Phrases in Japanese – With English Translation

Voice sample: 1 2 AI

人の夢は！！！終わらねェ！！！

ひとのゆめは！！！おわらねぇ！！！ (Hito no yume wa!!! owaranee!!!)

People's dreams... never end!!!

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Basic Example

友達が夢を諦めかけた時に励ますため、
「お前の夢は終わらねェ！」

When a friend considers giving up their dream:
'Your dreams... never end!'

Applied Example

困難に直面したチームを激励するとき、
「俺たちの挑戦は終わらねェ！」

When encouraging a team facing difficulties:
'Our challenge... never ends!'

Voice sample: AI

安西先生…バスケがしたいです。

あんざいせんせい…ばすけがしたいです。 (Anzai-sensei... basuke ga shitai desu.)

Coach Anzai... I want to play basketball.

SLAM DUNK (スラムダンク) Hisashi Mitsui (三井寿) Hope Loneliness Confession

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Voice sample: AI

生きたい…！（生ぎたいっ！！！！）

いきたい…！（いぎたいっ！！！！） (Ikitai…! (Igitai!!!))

I want to live...!

ONE PIECE (ワンピース) Nico Robin (ニコ・ロビン) Hope Moved Crisis

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Voice sample: AI

石に立つ矢

いしにたつや (Ishi ni tatsu ya)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement Praise

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Basic Example

努力を重ねれば、不可能も石に立つ矢となる。

If you put in enough effort, the impossible becomes possible — even an arrow can stand on a stone.

Applied Example

最弱と呼ばれた剣士の一撃が、強敵の盾を貫いた。石に立つ矢だ。

The blow of the weakest swordsman pierced the enemy’s shield — an arrow standing on stone.

Voice sample: AI

待てば海路の日和あり

まてばかいろのひよりあり (Mateba kairo no hiyori ari)

All things come to those who wait / Good things come to those who wait

Calm Hope Advice Encouragement

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Basic Example

苦しい時期も、待てば海路の日和ありと信じて耐えた。

He endured the hard times, trusting that all things come to those who wait.

Applied Example

嵐が去り、海が静かになる。待てば海路の日和あり、船は再び進み出した。

The storm passed and the sea calmed. Good sailing weather comes to those who wait, and the ship moved again.

Voice sample: AI

千里の道も一歩から

せんりのみちもいっぽから (Senri no michi mo ippo kara)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Hope Motivation Advice Encouragement

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Basic Example

どんな大きな目標も、千里の道も一歩からだと自分に言い聞かせて走り始めた。

Even the longest journey begins with a single step — he reminded himself as he started running.

Applied Example

新入部員が初めてラケットを握る。千里の道も一歩から、その一振りが未来を作る。

A rookie picked up a racket for the first time. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single swing.

Voice sample: AI

努力は裏切らない

どりょくはうらぎらない (Doryoku wa uragiranai)

Hard work pays off

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

長時間の練習を重ね、努力は裏切らないことを証明した。

After long hours of training, he proved that hard work pays off.

Applied Example

何度も負けた選手が、最後の一戦で笑顔を見せた。努力は裏切らない。

The player who lost countless times finally smiled after the last match — hard work pays off.

Voice sample: AI

雨垂れ石を穿つ

あまだれいしをうがつ (Amadare ishi wo ugatsu)

Constant dripping wears away the stone / Perseverance prevails

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

毎日の基礎練習は小さな一歩でも、雨垂れ石を穿つのだ。

Even small steps in daily drills can have a big impact — constant dripping wears away the stone.

Applied Example

「見ろよ、この成果。雨垂れ石を穿つって本当だな。」

Look at this progress. Constant dripping wears away the stone — it’s true.

Voice sample: AI

雨降って地固まる

あめふってじかたまる (Ame futte ji katamaru)

After a storm comes a calm / Adversity builds character

Calm Hope Advice Encouragement

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Basic Example

衝突の多い新チームだったが、合宿後は「雨降って地固まる」で結束が強くなった。

They clashed at first, but after camp their bond was stronger—after a storm comes a calm

Applied Example

激しい口論のあと、二人は同じ傘に入った。雨降って地固まる、距離はむしろ縮まった。

After a fierce argument, they shared one umbrella; adversity builds character, and they grew closer.

Voice sample: AI

七転び八起き

ななころびやおき (Nana korobi ya oki)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again / Fall down seven times, get up eight

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

何度失敗しても、七転び八起きでまた立ち上がる。

No matter how many times you fail, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Applied Example

投げられても立ち上がり、また向かっていく。七転び八起き、その執念が試合を変えた。

Thrown to the mat, she stood up again and faced her opponent. Fall down seven times, get up eight — that persistence changed the match.