Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

臥竜鳳雛

がりょうほうすう (garyou housuu)

Young person of great but hidden talent

Example 1Basic Example

彼は臥竜鳳雛と評される新人だ。
He is a newcomer described as a young person of great but hidden talent.

Example 2Applied Example

「お前みたいな臥竜鳳雛、いつか必ず全国大会で名を轟かせるさ。」
A young person of great but hidden talent like you will one day make a name for yourself at the national tournament.

Yojijukugo

自由奔放

じゆうほんぽう (jiyuu honpou)

Free-spirited and uninhibited

Example 1Basic Example

彼女は自由奔放な性格で知られる。
She is known for her free-spirited and uninhibited personality.

Example 2Applied Example

「自由奔放に生きるのさ。ルールなんて、つまらないだろ？」
I live free-spirited and uninhibited. Rules are boring, aren’t they?

Yojijukugo

虚々実々

きょきょじつじつ (kyokyo jitsujitsu)

Feints and real moves in strategy

Example 1Basic Example

両者の交渉は虚々実々の駆け引きだった。
The negotiation between the two was a mixture of feints and real moves.

Example 2Applied Example

二人の剣士は虚々実々の攻防を繰り広げ、観客を熱狂させた。
The two swordsmen engaged in a battle of feints and real moves in strategy, thrilling the crowd.

Yojijukugo

浅学非才

せんがくひさい (sengaku hisai)

Poorly learned and untalented

Example 1Basic Example

自らを浅学非才と謙遜する。
He humbly describes himself as poorly learned and untalented.

Example 2Applied Example

浅学非才ながらも、彼は必死に魔法書を読み進めた。
Poorly learned and untalented though he was, he struggled on, reading through the grimoire.

Yojijukugo

自力更生

じりきこうせい (jiriki kousei)

Rebuilding one's life through one's own efforts

Example 1Basic Example

彼は自力更生して会社を立ち上げた。
He rebuilt his life through his own efforts and started a company.

Example 2Applied Example

「俺は自力更生でここまで来た…誰にも借りはない！」
I rebuilt my life through my own efforts… I owe nothing to anyone!

Yojijukugo

他力本願

たりきほんがん (tariki hongan)

Relying on others' help or grace

Example 1Basic Example

彼は他力本願で、すべて人任せだ。
He relies on others' help or grace, leaving everything to them.

Example 2Applied Example

彼はいつも他力本願で、自ら剣を取ることはなかった。
He was always relying on others' help or grace, never taking up the sword himself.

Yojijukugo

三位一体

さんみいったい (sanmi ittai)

Three elements working as one

Example 1Basic Example

政府・企業・市民が三位一体で取り組む。
The government, companies, and citizens work together as three elements working as one.

Example 2Applied Example

「剣、魔法、祈り…この三位一体が我らの力だ！」
Sword, magic, and prayer… these three elements working as one are our strength!

Yojijukugo

面目一新

めんもくいっしん (menmoku isshin)

Complete renewal of appearance or reputation

Example 1Basic Example

改装で店の面目一新を図った。
The renovation aimed for a complete renewal of the store's image.

Example 2Applied Example

新調した甲冑で兵士たちは面目一新、士気も高まった。
With their new armor, the soldiers had a complete renewal of appearance or reputation, and their morale soared.

Yojijukugo

深謀遠慮

しんぼうえんりょ (shinbou enryo)

Deep foresight and careful planning

Example 1Basic Example

彼は深謀遠慮のうえで決断した。
He made the decision with deep foresight and careful planning.

Example 2Applied Example

将軍は深謀遠慮をもって布陣し、敵軍を一歩も寄せつけなかった。
The general deployed his troops with deep foresight and careful planning, keeping the enemy at bay.

Yojijukugo

難攻不落

なんこうふらく (nankou furaku)

Impregnable and hard to attack

Example 1Basic Example

その城は難攻不落で有名だ。
The castle is famous for being impregnable and hard to attack.

Example 2Applied Example

その城は難攻不落で、百年もの間誰も攻め落とせなかった。
The castle was impregnable and hard to attack, standing undefeated for a hundred years.

Yojijukugo