Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

豪放磊落

ごうほうらいらく (gouhou rairaku)

Being broad-minded and magnanimous

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Basic Example

彼は豪放磊落な性格で、誰とでもすぐに打ち解ける。

He has a generous and open-hearted personality, making friends with anyone quickly.

Applied Example

豪放磊落な性格が周囲を明るくした。

His magnanimous and carefree nature brightened those around him.

Voice sample: AI

石橋を叩いて渡る

いしばしをたたいてわたる (ishibashi o tataite wataru)

Better safe than sorry

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Basic Example

慎重すぎるくらい確認するのは、石橋を叩いて渡るだ。

Checking thoroughly before acting is better safe than sorry.

Applied Example

相手のフォーメーションを何度も研究、石橋を叩いて渡る作戦だ。

Studying the opponent’s formation over and over—better safe than sorry.

Voice sample: AI

風林火山

ふうりんかざん (fuurin kazan)

Swift as wind, silent as forest, fierce as fire, immovable as mountain

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Basic Example

風林火山の旗を掲げた武将の戦い方に憧れる。

I admire the tactics of the general who fought under the “Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain” banner.

Applied Example

「動くこと風の如く、侵略すること火の如し」風林火山の旗が揺れた。

Swift as the wind, fierce as fire — the banner of “Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain” fluttered.

Voice sample: AI

取らぬ狸の皮算用

とらぬたぬきのかわざんよう (toranu tanuki no kawazanyō)

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

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Basic Example

確定していない利益をあてにするのは、取らぬ狸の皮算用だ。

Counting on profit before it’s certain is like not counting your chickens before they hatch.

Applied Example

まだ試合に勝ってもいないのに優勝旅行計画…取らぬ狸の皮算用だ。

Planning a victory trip before the match is won—don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

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自縄自縛

じじょうじばく (jijou jibaku)

Being caught in one’s own trap; self-imposed bind

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Basic Example

細かすぎるルールで自縄自縛になっている。

We’re trapped by our own overly strict rules.

Applied Example

自分の発言に縛られ、自縄自縛に陥った。

He was bound by his own words, caught in a trap of his own making.

Voice sample: AI

雨後の筍

うごのたけのこ (ugo no takenoko)

To mushroom overnight

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自己中心

じこちゅうしん (jiko chuushin)

Self-centeredness; egocentrism

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Voice sample: AI

弱り目に祟り目

よわりめにたたりめ (yowarime ni tatarime)

When it rains, it pours

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Basic Example

悪いことは続くもので、弱り目に祟り目だ。

Bad things come together—when it rains, it pours.

Applied Example

連敗中に主力が怪我…弱り目に祟り目だよ。

On a losing streak and then our ace gets injured—when it rains, it pours.

Voice sample: AI

言行一致

げんこういっち (genkou itchi)

Consistency between words and actions

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Voice sample: AI

焼け石に水

やけいしにみず (yakeishi ni mizu)

A drop in the ocean

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Basic Example

努力が少なすぎて効果がない、まさに焼け石に水だ。

Too little effort to make a difference is like a drop in the ocean.

Applied Example

筋トレ一日だけじゃ焼け石に水だな。

One day of weight training is just a drop in the ocean.