Encouragement Phrases in Japanese – with English Translation

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

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

あめふってじかたまる (Ame futte ji katamaru)

After a storm comes a calm / Adversity builds character

Basic Example

衝突の多い新チームだったが、合宿後は「雨降って地固まる」で結束が強くなった。

They clashed at first, but after camp their bond was stronger—after a storm comes a calm

Applied Example

激しい口論のあと、二人は同じ傘に入った。雨降って地固まる、距離はむしろ縮まった。

After a fierce argument, they shared one umbrella; adversity builds character, and they grew closer.

Voice sample: AI

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

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Basic Example

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.

Applied Example

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.”

Voice sample: AI

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

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.