Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

石に立つ矢

いしにたつや (Ishi ni tatsu ya)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

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Basic Example

努力を重ねれば、不可能も石に立つ矢となる。

If you put in enough effort, the impossible becomes possible — even an arrow can stand on a stone.

Applied Example

最弱と呼ばれた剣士の一撃が、強敵の盾を貫いた。石に立つ矢だ。

The blow of the weakest swordsman pierced the enemy’s shield — an arrow standing on stone.

Voice sample: AI

馬耳東風

ばじとうふう (baji toufuu)

Fall on deaf ears

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Basic Example

彼の忠告は彼女にとって馬耳東風だった。

His advice was like the east wind to a horse’s ear to her.

Applied Example

必死の説得も彼には馬耳東風だった。

All the desperate persuasion was like the east wind in a horse’s ear to him.

Voice sample: AI

ぼそぼそ

ぼそぼそ (bosoboso)

mumbling, crumbly

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Voice sample: AI

習うより慣れよ

ならうよりなれよ (Narau yori nare yo)

Practice makes perfect / Experience is the best teacher

Motivation Advice

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Basic Example

外国語は、習うより慣れよで毎日使うのが上達の近道だ。

When learning a foreign language, practice every day — experience is the best teacher.

Applied Example

「聞くだけじゃなく話せ。習うより慣れよだ。」

Don’t just listen, speak. Experience is the best teacher.

Voice sample: AI

半信半疑

はんしんはんぎ (hanshin hangi)

Skeptical / Doubtful

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Basic Example

彼の話を半信半疑で聞いた。

I listened to his story half convinced, half doubtful.

Applied Example

「本当に勝てるのか？」半信半疑のまま、それでも彼は前に進んだ。

Can we really win? Still half in doubt, he moved forward.

Voice sample: AI

ぐい

ぐい (gui)

one gulp, tug

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Voice sample: AI

百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとす

ひゃくりのみちもくじゅうくりをもってなかばとす (Hyakuri no michi mo kujūkyūri wo motte nakaba to su)

The last mile is the hardest

Seriousness Advice

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Basic Example

最後の仕上げこそ大事。百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとす。

The last stretch is the most important — the last mile is the hardest.

Applied Example

ゴール目前で油断し、逆転された。百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとすだ。

He let his guard down just before the finish line and was overtaken — the last mile is the hardest.

Voice sample: AI

一攫千金

いっかくせんきん (ikkaku senkin)

Strike it rich / Windfall

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Basic Example

彼は宝くじで一攫千金を狙っている。

He’s aiming for sudden wealth in the lottery.

Applied Example

一攫千金を狙って挑んだ一打が、スタンド最上段に突き刺さった。

The swing aimed at winning a fortune in one go sent the ball crashing into the top row of the stands.

Voice sample: AI

ふわり

ふわり (fuwari)

lightly, softly drifting

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Voice sample: AI

学問に王道なし

がくもんにおうどうなし (Gakumon ni ōdō nashi)

There is no royal road to learning

Seriousness Advice

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Basic Example

試験勉強は地道な暗記と理解の繰り返し。学問に王道なしだ。

Studying for the exam meant steady repetition and understanding — there is no royal road to learning.

Applied Example

「近道はないぞ。学問に王道なしだ。」

There’s no shortcut. There is no royal road to learning.