Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

前代未聞

ぜんだいみもん (zendai mimon)

Unprecedented / Never before seen

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ヘトヘト

へとへと (hetoheto)

exhausted, worn out

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腹八分目

はらはちぶんめ (Hara hachibunme)

Moderation in all things

Calm Advice

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Basic Example

忙しい日は昼食を「腹八分目」に抑えると、午後の集中力が保てる。

Keeping lunch to moderation in all things helped him focus all afternoon.

Applied Example

彼女はケーキを一口残した。腹八分目、明日の練習のために甘さは控えめ。

She left one bite of cake; moderation in all things for tomorrow’s practice.

Voice sample: AI

美辞麗句

びじれいく (biji reiku)

Fine words butter no parsnips

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Basic Example

美辞麗句に惑わされてはいけない。

Don’t be deceived by fine words that butter no parsnips.

Applied Example

「美辞麗句だけで中身がない演説なんて信用できない。」

Fine words butter no parsnips — I can’t trust a speech with no substance.

Voice sample: AI

ジロジロ

じろじろ (jirojiro)

staring, scrutinizing

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Basic Example

知らない人にジロジロ見られて嫌だった。

I hated being stared at by a stranger.

Applied Example

電車でジロジロ見てくる人に主人公がツッコミを入れる。

Main character in manga complains about being stared at on the train.

Voice sample: AI

猫に小判

ねこにこばん (Neko ni koban)

Casting pearls before swine

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Basic Example

最新ワインを勧めても、彼には味の違いが分からず「猫に小判」だった。

Offering a premium wine to him was casting pearls before swine.

Applied Example

「高級ヘッドホン？俺の耳じゃ猫に小判だな。」

“High‑end headphones? With my ears, that’s pearls before swine.”

Voice sample: AI

異口同音

いくどうおん (ikudou on)

Speak with one voice

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ニヤニヤ

にやにや (niyaniya)

grinning, smirking

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Basic Example

彼は何かを企んでいるようにニヤニヤしている。

He’s grinning as if he’s up to something.

Applied Example

「ニヤニヤが止まらない！」（秘密がバレそうなシーン）

“I can’t stop smirking!” when someone’s secret is almost found out.

Voice sample: AI

転ばぬ先の杖

ころばぬさきのつえ (Korobanu saki no tsue)

Better safe than sorry / Look before you leap

Seriousness Advice Caution

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Basic Example

資料は二部印刷、データはクラウドに保存。「転ばぬ先の杖」で会議は無事に終わった。

Two printed copies and a cloud backup—better safe than sorry, and the meeting went smoothly.

Applied Example

「替えのラケット、持ってきた？」転ばぬ先の杖、その一振りで流れが変わった。

“Did you bring a spare racket?” Better safe than sorry; that swing changed the momentum.

Voice sample: AI

千差万別

せんさばんべつ (sensaban betsu)

Variety is the spice of life

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Basic Example

人の価値観は千差万別だ。

People’s values show that variety is the spice of life.

Applied Example

参加者の戦い方は千差万別で、見ていて飽きない。

Their fighting styles were all different — variety is the spice of life.