Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

和洋折衷

わようせっちゅう (wayō secchū)

Japanese-Western fusion

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Basic Example

この家は和洋折衷のデザインだ。

This house has a Japanese-Western fusion design.

Applied Example

和洋折衷の弁当は、外国人選手にも好評だった。

The Japanese-Western fusion bento was a hit even with foreign players.

Voice sample: AI

口は災いの元

くちはわざわいのもと (kuchi wa wazawai no moto)

Loose lips sink ships

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Basic Example

不用意な発言は避けたい、口は災いの元だからだ。

I want to avoid careless remarks, since loose lips sink ships.

Applied Example

告白前に噂を流すなんて、口は災いの元だぞ。

Spreading rumors before confessing—loose lips sink ships.

Voice sample: AI

質実剛健

しつじつごうけん (shitsujitsu gōken)

Unpretentious and robust

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Basic Example

質実剛健な校風で知られる学校。

A school known for its unpretentious and robust atmosphere.

Applied Example

派手さはないが、質実剛健なプレーで勝利をつかんだ。

Without flashiness, he won with a solid and robust play.

Voice sample: AI

可愛い子には旅をさせよ

かわいいこにはたびをさせよ (kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo)

Spare the rod and spoil the child (in the sense of discipline/independence)

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Basic Example

心配だが、可愛い子には旅をさせよというし、彼を送り出す。

I’m worried, but as they say, spare the rod, spoil the child, so I’ll let him go.

Applied Example

弟子を危険な任務に出すのは辛いが、可愛い子には旅をさせよだ。

It’s hard to send the disciple on a dangerous mission, but spare the rod, spoil the child.

Voice sample: AI

疾風迅雷

しっぷうじんらい (shippū jinrai)

Swift and sudden

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Basic Example

疾風迅雷の速さで任務を終えた。

He completed the mission with lightning speed.

Applied Example

疾風迅雷の速攻で相手の隙を突いた。

With a swift and sudden attack, he exploited the opponent’s opening.

Voice sample: AI

縁の下の力持ち

えんのしたのちからもち (en no shita no chikaramochi)

The unsung hero

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Basic Example

表に出ないが、彼は完全に縁の下の力持ちだ。

He works behind the scenes, truly an unsung hero.

Applied Example

戦闘班を支える補給係は、まさに縁の下の力持ちだ。

The supply officer backing the fighters is the unsung hero.

Voice sample: AI

完全無欠

かんぜんむけつ (kanzen muketsu)

Perfect and flawless

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Voice sample: AI

失敗は成功のもと

しっぱいはせいこうのもと (shippai wa seikō no moto)

Failure is the mother of success

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Basic Example

失敗を教訓にできれば、失敗は成功のもとと言える。

If we can learn from our mistakes, failure becomes the stepping stone to success.

Applied Example

予選敗退を糧にすれば、失敗は成功のもとになるはずだ。

If we use the prelim loss as fuel, failure becomes the stepping stone to success.

Voice sample: AI

無病息災

むびょうそくさい (mubyō sokusai)

Good health

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Basic Example

無病息災で一年を過ごせますように。

I wish for a year of good health.

Applied Example

健康診断で異常なし。無病息災に感謝する日だ。

The check-up showed no issues — a day to be thankful for being free from illness.

Voice sample: AI

壁に耳あり障子に目あり

かべにみみありしょうじにめあり (kabe ni mimi ari shōji ni me ari)

Walls have ears

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Basic Example

内緒話は控えめにすべきで、壁に耳あり障子に目ありを忘れてはならない。

We must be discreet, remembering that walls have ears.

Applied Example

ギルドの噂話は危険だ、壁に耳あり障子に目ありだからな。

Guild gossip is risky—remember, walls have ears.