Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

天衣無縫

てんいむほう (ten’i muhō)

Natural and flawless; without artifice.

View detail →

Basic Example

彼女の笑顔は天衣無縫で、作り物ではない自然な魅力がある。

Her smile is completely natural and unaffected.

Applied Example

彼女のプレーは天衣無縫で、見る者を魅了した。

Her play was so natural and perfect, it enchanted everyone.

Voice sample: AI

魚心あれば水心

うおごころあればみずごころ (uogokoro areba mizugokoro)

Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

View detail →

Basic Example

こちらが助ければ、魚心あれば水心で助け返してくれるだろう。

If we help them, they’ll likely return the favor—scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

Applied Example

「魚心あれば水心…だろ？」アイテムを渡して笑う。

“Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours… right?” he said, handing over the item.

Voice sample: AI

波瀾万丈

はらんばんじょう (haran banjō)

A life full of ups and downs and dramatic events.

View detail →

Basic Example

彼の人生は波瀾万丈で、常に予想外の出来事が起こる。

His life has been full of ups and downs, with constant surprises.

Applied Example

彼の人生は波瀾万丈で、語れば一晩では足りない。

His life was full of ups and downs — you couldn’t tell it all in one night.

Voice sample: AI

下手の横好き

へたのよこずき (heta no yokozuki)

All the gear and no idea

View detail →

Basic Example

彼は下手の横好きで、道具だけは一流だ。

He’s all the gear and no idea—his tools are top-notch, but his skills are lacking.

Applied Example

「見ろ！最新装備だ！」…でも実力は下手の横好き。

“Check out my new gear!”…but he’s all the gear and no idea.

Voice sample: AI

意気軒昂

いきけんこう (iki kenkō)

High-spirited and full of energy.

View detail →

Voice sample: AI

親しき仲にも礼儀あり

したしきなかにもれいぎあり (shitashiki naka ni mo reigi ari)

Familiarity breeds contempt (if boundaries are not kept)

View detail →

Basic Example

仲が良くても、親しき仲にも礼儀ありを忘れてはいけない。

Even with close friends, one must remember that familiarity breeds contempt if boundaries are not kept.

Applied Example

長年の相棒でも、親しき仲にも礼儀ありだ。

Even long-time partners need to remember—familiarity breeds contempt.

Voice sample: AI

十年一日

じゅうねんいちじつ (jūnen ichijitsu)

No change over a long period, as if time stood still.

View detail →

Basic Example

彼の生活は十年一日、変わらぬ日課だった。

His daily routine has been unchanged for ten years.

Applied Example

十年間同じペースで努力を続けてきた。まるで十年一日だ。

He’d kept the same pace of effort for ten years straight — like time standing still.

Voice sample: AI

能ある鷹は爪を隠す

のうあるたかはつめをかくす (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu)

Still waters run deep

View detail →

Basic Example

実力者ほど控えめで、能ある鷹は爪を隠すものだ。

Those with real skill are modest—still waters run deep.

Applied Example

「フッ…能ある鷹は爪を隠すってな」剣を抜かずに敵を倒す。

“Heh… still waters run deep,” he said, defeating the foe without drawing his sword.

Voice sample: AI

一期百会

いちごひゃくえ (ichigo hyakue)

A once-in-a-lifetime meeting leading to countless connections.

View detail →

Basic Example

その会議は一期百会のように、多くの出会いが詰まっていた。

That conference felt like countless valuable encounters packed into one event.

Applied Example

一期百会の巡り合わせに、仲間たちは深く感謝した。

They were deeply grateful for the rare and fateful encounter — once in a hundred meetings.

Voice sample: AI

馬の骨

うまのほね (uma no hone)

An unknown nobody

View detail →

Basic Example

彼はどこの誰とも知れぬ馬の骨だ。

He is an unknown nobody—just a horse’s bone.

Applied Example

あいつ、本当にただの村人？完全に馬の骨じゃないか。

Is he really just a villager? He’s a total unknown nobody.