Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

ガヤガヤ

がやがや (gayagaya)

chatting noisily, buzz of a crowd

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Voice sample: AI

泣く子と地頭には勝てぬ

なくことじとうにはかてぬ (naku ko to jitō ni wa katenu)

You can’t fight city hall

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Basic Example

役所との争いは難しく、まさに泣く子と地頭には勝てぬ状況だ。

It is hard to win against the authorities—truly a case of “you can’t fight city hall.”

Applied Example

大会規定は絶対で、まさに泣く子と地頭には勝てぬ展開だ。

The tournament rules are absolute—truly a “you can’t fight city hall” scenario.

Voice sample: AI

単刀直入

たんとうちょくにゅう (tantō chokunyū)

Straight to the point

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Basic Example

単刀直入に聞くけど、この案件は進めていい？

Let me get straight to the point—can we proceed with this project?

Applied Example

「単刀直入に言う。お前が必要だ。」

I’ll get straight to the point. I need you.

Voice sample: AI

サラサラ

さらさら (sarasara)

silky, flowing, smooth

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Voice sample: AI

嘘も方便

うそもほうべん (uso mo hōben)

A necessary evil (in speech)

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Basic Example

場を丸く収めるには、嘘も方便というやり方もある。

To defuse the situation, sometimes a necessary evil (in speech) helps.

Applied Example

王都の混乱を抑えるなら、嘘も方便だろ？

To keep the capital calm, a necessary evil (in speech) might be our best move.

Voice sample: AI

泰然自若

たいぜんじじゃく (taizen jijaku)

Calm and composed

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Voice sample: AI

バタバタ

ばたばた (batabata)

flustered, rushing around

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Voice sample: AI

良薬は口に苦し

りょうやくはくちににがし (ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi)

Bitter pills may have blessed effects

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Basic Example

良薬は口に苦しと頭ではわかっていても、父の説教は素直に飲み込めない。

Even knowing that bitter pills may have blessed effects, I can’t quite swallow Dad’s lecture.

Applied Example

良薬は口に苦しってわかってるけど、師匠のダメ出しは会心の一撃だ。

I know bitter pills may have blessed effects, but the mentor’s critique lands like a critical hit.

Voice sample: AI

ムズムズ

むずむず (muzumuzu)

restless, itching to act

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Voice sample: AI

張子の虎

はりこのとら (hariko no tora)

Paper tiger

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