Japanese Proverb – English Translation & Meaning

Voice sample: AI

能ある鷹は爪を隠す

のうあるたかはつめをかくす (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu)

Still waters run deep

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Basic Example

実力者ほど控えめで、能ある鷹は爪を隠すものだ。

Those with real skill are modest—still waters run deep.

Applied Example

「フッ…能ある鷹は爪を隠すってな」剣を抜かずに敵を倒す。

“Heh… still waters run deep,” he said, defeating the foe without drawing his sword.

Voice sample: AI

馬の骨

うまのほね (uma no hone)

An unknown nobody

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Basic Example

彼はどこの誰とも知れぬ馬の骨だ。

He is an unknown nobody—just a horse’s bone.

Applied Example

あいつ、本当にただの村人？完全に馬の骨じゃないか。

Is he really just a villager? He’s a total unknown nobody.

Voice sample: AI

風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる

かぜがふけばおけやがもうかる (kaze ga fukeba okeya ga mōkaru)

The law of unintended consequences

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Basic Example

小さな出来事が連鎖して大事件になる、まさに風が吹けば桶屋が儲かるだ。

A small event triggered a chain leading to a big incident—just like the law of unintended consequences.

Applied Example

スライム一匹逃したら城が陥落…風が吹けば桶屋が儲かるだな。

Let one slime escape and the castle falls… the law of unintended consequences.

Voice sample: AI

無駄骨を折る

むだぼねをおる (muda hone o oru)

Barking up the wrong tree

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Basic Example

徹夜で作業したのに採用されず、無駄骨を折った。

I worked all night, but my proposal wasn’t accepted—I barked up the wrong tree.

Applied Example

「これ全部やり直し？…完全に無駄骨を折ったな」

“All of this… and we have to redo it? I totally barked up the wrong tree.”

Voice sample: AI

災い転じて福となす

わざわいてんじてふくとなす (wazawai tenjite fuku to nasu)

Blessing in disguise

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Basic Example

大失敗がきっかけで新しい道が開けた、まさに災い転じて福となすだ。

A big failure opened up a new path—truly a blessing in disguise.

Applied Example

魔王に負けたおかげで仲間が増えた、災い転じて福となすってやつか。

We lost to the demon lord, but gained new allies—a blessing in disguise.

Voice sample: AI

二階から目薬

にかいからめぐすり (nikai kara megusuri)

A roundabout way to do something

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Basic Example

説明が遠回りすぎて、まるで二階から目薬のようだ。

The explanation was so roundabout—it was like trying to apply eye drops from the second floor.

Applied Example

ヒントが回りくどすぎて、二階から目薬って感じだな。

The hint was so indirect—it’s like putting in eye drops from the second floor.

Voice sample: AI

背に腹は代えられぬ

せにはらはかえられぬ (se ni hara wa kaerarenu)

Desperate times call for desperate measures

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Basic Example

背に腹は代えられぬ状況で、貯金をすべて使った。

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I used all my savings.

Applied Example

「背に腹は代えられぬ！この一撃に全魔力を注ぐ！」

“Desperate times call for desperate measures! I’ll pour all my magic into this strike!”

Voice sample: AI

雀の涙

すずめのなみだ (suzume no namida)

A drop in the bucket

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Basic Example

その寄付金額は必要経費に比べれば雀の涙だ。

The donation amount is a drop in the bucket compared to the needed expenses.

Applied Example

装備強化費用に比べたら、この報酬は雀の涙だな。

Compared to gear upgrade costs, this reward is just a drop in the bucket.

Voice sample: AI

類は友を呼ぶ

るいはともをよぶ (rui wa tomo o yobu)

Birds of a feather flock together

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Basic Example

似た者同士は集まりやすく、類は友を呼ぶものだ。

People with similar interests gather—birds of a feather flock together.

Applied Example

恋バナ好きばかりの部に新人が入ってきた、やっぱり類は友を呼ぶ。

A romance-obsessed newbie joined the club—birds of a feather flock together.

Voice sample: AI

目の上のたんこぶ

めのうえのたんこぶ (me no ue no tankobu)

A thorn in one’s side

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Basic Example

彼はずっと私の目の上のたんこぶのような存在だ。

He has always been like a thorn in my side.

Applied Example

同じポジションに絶対王者がいて、目の上のたんこぶだ。

There’s a reigning champ in my position—a thorn in my side.