Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

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.

Voice sample: AI

ビクビク

びくびく (bikubiku)

timid, nervous

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Basic Example

怒られると思ってビクビクしていた。

I was nervous, thinking I’d get scolded.

Applied Example

ホラー漫画で物音にビクッとなるキャラ。

A character startled by a noise in a horror manga.

Voice sample: AI

鬼に金棒

おににかなぼう (Oni ni kanabou)

Adding fuel to the fire / To make a strong person even stronger

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Basic Example

エースが復帰した途端、守備も攻撃も噛み合って「鬼に金棒」になった。

With the ace back, the team became even stronger—adding fuel to the fire.

Applied Example

「新装備、解禁。」彼女がグラブをはめ直すと、チームは鬼に金棒の強さを手に入れた。

“New gear, unlocked.” She tightened her glove and the team looked stronger than ever, like giving an ogre a metal club.

Voice sample: AI

臨機応変

りんきおうへん (rinki ouhen)

Play it by ear / Go with the flow

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Basic Example

状況に応じて臨機応変に対応する。

Respond by playing it by ear.

Applied Example

「予定通りじゃなくてもいい、臨機応変に動け！」

It doesn’t have to go as planned. Play it by ear!

Voice sample: AI

くよくよ

くよくよ (kuyokuyo)

worrying, brooding

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Voice sample: AI

泣きっ面に蜂

なきっつらにはち (Nakittsura ni hachi)

When it rains, it pours / Misfortunes never come singly

Disappointment Sadness Other

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Basic Example

終電を逃したうえにスマホまで電池切れ、「泣きっ面に蜂」とはこのことだ。

Missing the last train and a dead phone—when it rains, it pours.

Applied Example

雨に濡れた彼のスニーカーが水たまりに沈む。泣きっ面に蜂、けれど拾った傘が恋の始まりになった。

His soaked sneakers sank into a puddle; misfortunes never come singly, yet the umbrella he found started a romance.

Voice sample: AI

支離滅裂

しりめつれつ (shiri metsuretsu)

Incoherent. / Disorganized and inconsistent.

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Basic Example

彼の説明は支離滅裂だった。

His explanation was incoherent.

Applied Example

作戦会議は支離滅裂、誰も結論を出せなかった。

The strategy meeting was incoherent — no one could reach a decision.

Voice sample: AI

うとうと

うとうと (utouto)

nodding off, dozing off

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Voice sample: AI

鶴の一声

つるのひとこえ (Tsuru no hitokoe)

The final word / A word from the top settles everything

Other Other

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Basic Example

紛糾する会議も、部長の「鶴の一声」で一気に方向が決まった。

The heated meeting ended when the boss gave the final word.

Applied Example

「作戦はB案でいく。」鶴の一声に、ベンチの空気が一気に締まった。

“We’ll go with Plan B.” A word from the top snapped the dugout to attention.

Voice sample: AI

公明正大

こうめいせいだい (koumei seidai)

Fair and square. / Just and upright.

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Basic Example

公明正大な判断を下すべきだ。

We should make a fair and square decision.

Applied Example

判定に迷いはない。審判は公明正大であった。

There was no hesitation in the call — the referee was fair and square.