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Japanese Phrases · 437

Japanese Phrases

Results: 411–420 of 437

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灯台下暗し

とうだいもとくらし (Toudai moto kurashi)

It's darkest under the lamp post / We often overlook what's right under our noses

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 鍵が見つからず大騒ぎしたが、結局は玄関の棚にあった。まさに「灯台下暗し」。

    We turned the place upside down for the key, only to find it on the entry shelf—it's darkest under the lamp post.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 「部室の旗？ 灯台下暗し。お前のリュックの背面ポケットに刺さってるぞ。」

    “The club banner? It’s right under your nose. Check the back pocket of your backpack.”

Proverbs

十人十色

じゅうにんといろ (juunin toiro)

So many men, so many minds. / To each their own. / Everyone is different.

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 人の好みは十人十色だ。

    Everyone is different when it comes to taste.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 同じ景色を見ても感想は十人十色だった。

    Even seeing the same view, their reactions were all different — so many men, so many minds.

Yojijukugo

ぐっすり

ぐっすり (gussuri)

sound asleep, fast asleep

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 赤ちゃんがぐっすり寝ている。

    The baby is fast asleep.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 「ドラえもん」でのび太が授業中ぐっすり寝ているシーン。

    Nobita sleeping soundly during class (from Doraemon).

Onomatopoeia

しーん

しーん (shiin)

silence, dead silent

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 先生が教室に入ると教室はしーんとなった。

    When the teacher entered, the classroom went silent.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. ボケがすべったときの「しーん…」

    That “awkward silence” after a failed joke: “shiiin…”

Onomatopoeia

三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ (Sannin yoreba Monju no chie)

Two (or three) heads are better than one

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 行き詰まった企画も、三部署でブレストしたら「三人寄れば文殊の知恵」で突破口が見えた。

    When three departments brainstormed, two or three heads were better than one and the plan finally moved.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. ベンチに戻ると、捕手とコーチが加わる。三人寄れば文殊の知恵で、次の回は三者凡退に抑えた。

    Back on the bench, the catcher and coach joined in; two heads are better than one, and the next inning was three up, three down.

Proverbs

一期一会

いちごいちえ (ichigo ichie)

Once-in-a-lifetime encounter. / Treasure every meeting, for it will never recur.

Example 1Basic Example

  1. この出会いを一期一会として大切にしたい。

    I want to treasure this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 旅先の小さな港町で出会った老人と語り合った夕暮れ。もう二度と会うことはないだろう。その一期一会が、不思議な温かさを残した。

    In a small harbor town on his travels, he spent the evening talking with an old man. They would likely never meet again, and that once-in-a-lifetime encounter left a strange warmth in his heart.

Yojijukugo

もぐもぐ

もぐもぐ (mogumogu)

chewing, munching

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 子どもがもぐもぐご飯を食べている。

    The child is munching on rice.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 「美味しそうにもぐもぐ…」（グルメ漫画でよく使うナレーション）

    “Munch, munch… looks so tasty!” (gourmet manga narration)

Onomatopoeia

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず

こけつにいらずんばこじをえず (Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず　彼女は迷わず難関資格に挑んだ。まさに「虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず」だ。

    She went for the toughest certification without hesitation—nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 全国大会の出場枠は一つだけ。「虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず」と言い切って、彼は最難関の技に挑んだ。

    In a tournament with only one national slot, he chose the hardest move, saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Proverbs

危機一髪

ききいっぱつ (kiki ippatsu)

A close call

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 危機一髪で車を避けた。

    I avoided the car in a close call.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 矢が頬をかすめる。危機一髪で踏みとどまった命に、観客が息を呑んだ。

    An arrow grazed his cheek — it was a close call, and the crowd held its breath.

Yojijukugo

ざわざわ

ざわざわ (zawazawa)

murmur, unrest

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 試合前の会場がざわざわしている。

    The crowd was filled with nervous murmuring before the match.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 会議中、発表内容にざわざわと反応が起きた。

    The audience murmured with unease after the announcement.

Onomatopoeia