Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

一寸先は闇

いっすんさきはやみ (issun saki wa yami)

The future is uncertain

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Voice sample: AI

千載一遇

せんざいいちぐう (senzai ichiguu)

Once in a blue moon / Once in a lifetime chance

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Basic Example

千載一遇のチャンスを逃すな。

Don’t miss this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

Applied Example

千載一遇のチャンスを前に、彼の手が震えた。

His hands trembled at the once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity before him.

Voice sample: AI

ひんやり

ひんやり (hinyari)

chilly, refreshingly cool

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Voice sample: AI

釈迦に説法

しゃかにせっぽう (shaka ni seppō)

Preaching to the choir

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Basic Example

その分野で彼に基本を説明するなんて、釈迦に説法だよ。

Explaining basics to him in that field is Preaching to the choir.

Applied Example

伝説の錬金術師に調合の基礎を語るの？釈迦に説法だ。

Telling a legendary alchemist how to brew? Preaching to the choir.

Voice sample: AI

因縁生起

いんねんしょうき (innen shouki)

Nothing happens by accident / Everything happens for a reason

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Basic Example

この出会いも因縁生起だと思う。

I think this meeting is also due to a chain of causes and conditions.

Applied Example

その出会いは偶然ではない、まさに因縁生起だった。

That meeting was no coincidence — it was truly a fated connection.

Voice sample: AI

じりじり

じりじり (jirijiri)

scorching, sizzling heat

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Voice sample: AI

無い袖は振れぬ

ないそではふれぬ (nai sode wa furenu)

You can’t get blood from a stone

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Basic Example

追加予算は無理だよ。無い袖は振れぬ。

We can’t approve more funds—You can’t get blood from a stone.

Applied Example

ポーション切れだ、もう無茶はできない。無い袖は振れぬ。

Out of potions—don’t ask for miracles; You can’t get blood from a stone.

Voice sample: AI

時期尚早

じきしょうそう (jiki shousou)

Jumping the gun

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Voice sample: AI

もやもや

もやもや (moyamoya)

foggy, hazy, vague

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Voice sample: AI

情けは人の為ならず

なさけはひとのためならず (nasake wa hito no tame narazu)

What goes around comes around

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Basic Example

困っている新人を助けたら、後で自分も救われた。情けは人の為ならず。

I helped the new hire, and later they helped me—What goes around comes around.

Applied Example

クエストで困っていた初心者を手伝ったら、次回レアドロを譲ってくれた。情けは人の為ならず。

We carried a newbie through the quest, and he shared the rare drop—What goes around comes around.