Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

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

View detail →

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.

Voice sample: AI

大同小異

だいどうしょうい (daidou shoui)

A hair’s breadth difference / Tweedledum and Tweedledee

View detail →

Basic Example

二つの案は大同小異だ。

The two proposals are largely the same with minor differences.

Applied Example

二つの案は大同小異で、どちらでも結果は同じだった。

The two plans were much the same, with only minor differences.

Voice sample: AI

ぽかぽか

ぽかぽか (pokapoka)

nice and warm, balmy

View detail →

Voice sample: AI

将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ

しょうをいんとほっすればまずうまをいよ (shō o in to hossureba mazu uma o iyo)

Cut off the head of the snake

View detail →

Basic Example

交渉を進めるなら決裁者の課題を押さえよう。将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ。

To move the deal forward, address the decision-maker’s pain points—Cut off the head of the snake.

Applied Example

ボスを倒すには先に支援モブを落とせ。将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ。

To beat the boss, take out the support mobs first—Cut off the head of the snake.

Voice sample: AI

自画自賛

じがじさん (jiga jisan)

Pat oneself on the back / Self-praise

View detail →

Basic Example

自画自賛だが、この作品は最高だ。

Self-praise it may be, but this is my best work.

Applied Example

「やっぱ俺、天才だな。」完全に自画自賛だった。

I really am a genius. It was pure self-praise.

Voice sample: AI

ぎらぎら

ぎらぎら (giragira)

blazing, glaring

View detail →

Voice sample: AI

医者の不養生

いしゃのふようじょう (isha no fuyōjō)

Physician, heal thyself

View detail →

Basic Example

健康指導してるのに自分は運動不足だなんて、医者の不養生だ。

Giving health advice while skipping workouts—Physician, heal thyself.

Applied Example

回復魔法の使い手が寝不足でふらふらって、医者の不養生だよ。

A healer running on no sleep? Physician, heal thyself.

Voice sample: AI

右往左往

うおうさおう (uou saou)

Running around like a headless chicken

View detail →

Basic Example

避難所で人々が右往左往していた。

People were moving about in confusion in the shelter.

Applied Example

予想外の事態に、選手たちは右往左往していた。

In the unexpected situation, the players rushed about in confusion.

Voice sample: AI

ぱらぱら

ぱらぱら (parapara)

sprinkling, scattered rain

View detail →

Voice sample: AI

青は藍より出でて藍より青し

あおはあいよりいでてあいよりあおし (ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi)

The pupil surpasses the master

View detail →

Basic Example

教え子が大会で優勝した。青は藍より出でて藍より青しだね。

My student won the championship—The pupil surpasses the master.

Applied Example

師匠の剣技を超えるなんて…青は藍より出でて藍より青し！

The apprentice outdid the sword master—The pupil surpasses the master.