Japanese Proverbs & Idioms – English Translations

Voice sample: AI

一心不乱

いっしんふらん (isshin furan)

Single-mindedly. / With undivided attention.

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Basic Example

彼は一心不乱に作業を続けた。

He kept working single-mindedly.

Applied Example

一心不乱に打ち込み、周囲の声など耳に入らなかった。

He was so focused, working with undivided attention, that he didn’t hear the voices around him.

Voice sample: AI

メソメソ

めそめそ (mesomeso)

whimpering, sniffling

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Basic Example

失敗してメソメソ泣いてばかりいた。

I kept sniffling after my mistake.

Applied Example

主人公がメソメソしてたら仲間に喝を入れられるシーン。

Scene where a main character gets scolded by friends for whining.

Voice sample: AI

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

いのなかのかわずたいかいをしらず (I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu)

A frog in a well knows nothing of the sea / Narrow-minded

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Basic Example

地域優勝で浮かれていたが、全国の壁を見て「井の中の蛙大海を知らず」と痛感した。

After a regional win, the national stage made him realize he’d been a frog in a well.

Applied Example

遠征で世界の強豪を見た瞬間、彼の視界が変わった。井の中の蛙大海を知らず、だからこそ海へ出る。

Seeing world‑class teams on tour changed his view; a frog in a well knows nothing of the sea—so he set sail.

Voice sample: AI

我田引水

がでんいんすい (gaden insui)

Acting in one's own interest. / Self-serving.

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Basic Example

会議での彼の発言は我田引水だった。

His comments in the meeting were acting in his own interest.

Applied Example

「その案、お前の得になるだけだろ。我田引水じゃないか。」

That plan only benefits you. That’s acting in your own interest.

Voice sample: AI

ピカピカ

ぴかぴか (pikapika)

shiny, sparkling clean

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Voice sample: AI

犬猿の仲

けんえんのなか (Ken'en no naka)

Fight like cats and dogs / Be at loggerheads

Anger Contempt Other

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Basic Example

幼なじみの二人は「犬猿の仲」だが、試合になると息が合う不思議なコンビだ。

They’re like cats and dogs, yet on the court their teamwork clicks.

Applied Example

「今日だけは停戦。犬猿の仲でも、勝利は分け合おう。」

“Truce for today. We may be at loggerheads, but let’s share the win.”

Voice sample: AI

七転八起

しちてんはっき (shichiten hakki)

Fall seven times, get up eight. / Never give up, no matter how many times you fail.

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Basic Example

何度失敗しても七転八起だ。

No matter how many times you fail, fall seven times and get up eight.

Applied Example

巨人に何度倒されても立ち上がる。七転八起こそ人類の魂だ。

No matter how many times the giants knocked them down, they rose again — fall seven times, get up eight.

Voice sample: AI

パチパチ

ぱちぱち (pachipachi)

clap clap, crackle

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Voice sample: AI

馬の耳に念仏

うまのみみにねんぶつ (Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu)

Casting pearls before swine / Preaching to deaf ears

Disappointment Advice

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Basic Example

丁寧に説明しても無視される会議は「馬の耳に念仏」で消耗するだけだ。

Explaining carefully at that meeting was like preaching to deaf ears.

Applied Example

「何回言っても聞かないな。馬の耳に念仏ってこのことだよ。」

“No matter how many times I say it, he won’t listen. This is preaching to deaf ears.”

Voice sample: AI

晴耕雨読

せいこううどく (seikou udoku)

Cultivate the fields when it's sunny, read books when it rains. / A life in tune with nature and at one's own pace.

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Basic Example

彼は田舎で晴耕雨読の生活を送っている。

He lives a life of cultivating when it’s sunny and reading when it rains.

Applied Example

晴れた日は畑で鍬を振るい、雨の日は本をめくる。晴耕雨読の暮らしが彼の力を育てた。

On sunny days he tilled the fields, on rainy days he turned the pages of books — a life in tune with nature and at one’s own pace.