Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

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

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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

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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

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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.

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自画自賛

じがじさん (jiga jisan)

Pat oneself on the back / Self-praise

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ぎらぎら

ぎらぎら (giragira)

blazing, glaring

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医者の不養生

いしゃのふようじょう (isha no fuyōjō)

Physician, heal thyself

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Voice sample: AI

付和雷同

ふわらいどう (fuwa raidou)

Go with the crowd / Follow the herd

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Basic Example

彼は常に付和雷同して意見を変える。

He always follows others blindly and changes his opinion.

Applied Example

彼は意見を持たず、常に付和雷同していた。

He had no opinion of his own and always went along with the crowd.