Determination Phrases in Japanese – with English Translation

Voice sample: 1 AI

やられたらやり返す。倍返しだ！

やられたらやりかえす。ばいがえしだ！ (Yararetara yarikaesu. Baigaeshi da!)

If someone gets you, get them back—double payback!

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Basic Example

上司に理不尽なことを言われた部下が、心の中で決意する。「やられたらやり返す。倍返しだ…！」

After being unfairly treated by his boss, an employee steels himself. “If I get hit, I’ll hit back. Double payback...”

Applied Example

友人とのやりとりで冗談めかして言う。「おごられたらおごり返す。倍返しだ！」

Joking with friends after being treated to lunch: “If someone treats me, I’ll treat them back. Double it!”

Voice sample: 1 2 AI

海賊王に、おれはなる！

かいぞくおうに、おれはなる！ (Kaizoku-ō ni, ore wa naru!)

I'm going to become the King of the Pirates!

ONE PIECE (ワンピース) Monkey D. Luffy (モンキー・D・ルフィ) Excitement Motivation Catchphrase Determination

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Voice sample: AI

石に立つ矢

いしにたつや (Ishi ni tatsu ya)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement Praise

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Basic Example

努力を重ねれば、不可能も石に立つ矢となる。

If you put in enough effort, the impossible becomes possible — even an arrow can stand on a stone.

Applied Example

最弱と呼ばれた剣士の一撃が、強敵の盾を貫いた。石に立つ矢だ。

The blow of the weakest swordsman pierced the enemy’s shield — an arrow standing on stone.

Voice sample: AI

継続は力なり

けいぞくはちからなり (Keizoku wa chikara nari)

Practice makes perfect / Perseverance is power

Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

毎日5分の読書でも、継続は力なりだと実感する。

Even five minutes of reading daily can make a big difference — perseverance is power.

Applied Example

小さな筋トレを欠かさなかった彼は、夏の大会で体格が別人のようになっていた。継続は力なり。

The one who never skipped small workouts looked like a different person at the summer tournament — perseverance is power.

Voice sample: AI

蒔かぬ種は生えぬ

まかぬたねははえぬ (Makanu tane wa haenu)

You reap what you sow / Nothing comes from nothing

Seriousness Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

準備を怠れば結果は出ない。蒔かぬ種は生えぬ。

If you neglect preparation, you can’t expect results — you reap what you sow.

Applied Example

「準備してないのに勝てると思った？蒔かぬ種は生えぬんだ。」

You thought you could win without preparing? Nothing comes from nothing.

Voice sample: AI

努力は裏切らない

どりょくはうらぎらない (Doryoku wa uragiranai)

Hard work pays off

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

長時間の練習を重ね、努力は裏切らないことを証明した。

After long hours of training, he proved that hard work pays off.

Applied Example

何度も負けた選手が、最後の一戦で笑顔を見せた。努力は裏切らない。

The player who lost countless times finally smiled after the last match — hard work pays off.

Voice sample: AI

雨垂れ石を穿つ

あまだれいしをうがつ (Amadare ishi wo ugatsu)

Constant dripping wears away the stone / Perseverance prevails

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

毎日の基礎練習は小さな一歩でも、雨垂れ石を穿つのだ。

Even small steps in daily drills can have a big impact — constant dripping wears away the stone.

Applied Example

「見ろよ、この成果。雨垂れ石を穿つって本当だな。」

Look at this progress. Constant dripping wears away the stone — it’s true.

Voice sample: AI

七転び八起き

ななころびやおき (Nana korobi ya oki)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again / Fall down seven times, get up eight

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

何度失敗しても、七転び八起きでまた立ち上がる。

No matter how many times you fail, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Applied Example

投げられても立ち上がり、また向かっていく。七転び八起き、その執念が試合を変えた。

Thrown to the mat, she stood up again and faced her opponent. Fall down seven times, get up eight — that persistence changed the match.