Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

寝耳に水

ねみみにみず (nemimi ni mizu)

A bolt from the blue

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Basic Example

予想もしない出来事に驚いた、まさに寝耳に水だ。

I was shocked by the unexpected news—it was a bolt from the blue.

Applied Example

「え…彼、転校するの!?」寝耳に水だよ…。

“What… he’s transferring schools!?” That was a bolt from the blue.

Voice sample: AI

大義名分

たいぎめいぶん (taigi meibun)

A just cause and proper justification.

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Voice sample: AI

一難去ってまた一難

いちなんさってまたいちなん (ichinan satte mata ichinan)

Out of the frying pan into the fire

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Basic Example

一つの問題が解決したと思ったら、すぐに別の問題が起きた。一難去ってまた一難だ。

One problem ended, and another began—out of the frying pan into the fire.

Applied Example

やっと付き合えたと思ったら遠距離に…一難去ってまた一難だな。

We finally started dating, but now it’s long distance—out of the frying pan into the fire.

Voice sample: AI

融通無碍

ゆうづうむげ (yūzū muge)

Flexible and unconstrained; able to adapt freely.

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Basic Example

彼は融通無碍な発想で問題を解決した。

He solved the problem with flexible and adaptable thinking.

Applied Example

融通無碍な発想で、常識を覆す戦術を生み出した。

With a flexible, unrestricted mindset, they created a strategy that defied common sense.

Voice sample: AI

一を聞いて十を知る

いちをきいてじゅうをしる (ichi o kiite jū o shiru)

A word to the wise is sufficient

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Basic Example

一つのことを聞いただけで多くを理解できる人がいる、一を聞いて十を知るだ。

Some can understand a lot from a little—a word to the wise is sufficient.

Applied Example

彼女の一言で全部察した、一を聞いて十を知るタイプだ。

From her one hint, I understood everything—a word to the wise is sufficient.

Voice sample: AI

一日一善

いちにちいちぜん (ichinichi ichizen)

Doing one good deed each day.

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Voice sample: AI

泥棒を捕らえて縄をなう

どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう (dorobō o toraete nawa o nau)

Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted

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Basic Example

事後に対策をしても遅い、泥棒を捕らえて縄をなうようなものだ。

Taking action after it’s too late is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Applied Example

フラれた後にオシャレしても、泥棒を捕らえて縄をなうだよね。

Dressing up after the rejection—it’s locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Voice sample: AI

羊頭狗肉

ようとうくにく (yōtō kuniku)

Putting up a false front; bait-and-switch.

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Basic Example

あの店は羊頭狗肉で、広告と実際の品質が全く違う。

That shop’s products don’t match its flashy advertisements.

Applied Example

見た目は豪華だが、中身は伴わない。羊頭狗肉だ。

It looked grand, but the content didn’t match — putting up a sheep’s head and selling dog meat.

Voice sample: AI

蛙の子は蛙

かえるのこはかえる (kaeru no ko wa kaeru)

Like father, like son

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Basic Example

親が有名人なら、その子も同じ道を歩むことが多い。蛙の子は蛙だ。

If the parent is a certain way, the child often follows—like father, like son.

Applied Example

恋愛下手な親に似たのか、僕も蛙の子は蛙だな。

Maybe I got it from my parents, but in love, like father, like son.

Voice sample: AI

急がば回れ

いそがばまわれ (isogaba maware)

More haste, less speed

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Basic Example

急ぐと失敗することがあるので、急がば回れだ。

More haste, less speed—sometimes it’s better to take the long way.

Applied Example

焦って告白したらフラれた…急がば回れだったのに。

I rushed my confession and got rejected… more haste, less speed.