光

→ Okinawan: 光 (fikari)

⟨pi₁kari⟩ → */pʲikari/ → /ɸikari/ → /hikari/
From Old Japanese.
Nominalization of the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 光る (hikaru, “to shine, to glitter, to gleam”).

蛍(ほたる)の光(ひかり)窓(まど)の雪(ゆき) 蛍の光窓の雪#Japanese

蛍(ほたる)の光(ひかり)窓(まど)の雪(ゆき) (hotaru no hikari mado no yuki, “firefly's dim light, snow reflected on the window → diligent study”)


機

From Middle Chinese 機／机 (kjɨj, “mechanism; opportunity, chance”). Compare modern Min Nan reading ki.

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に臨(のぞ)み変(へん)に応(おう)ずる 機に臨み変に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)に因(よ)って法(ほう)を説(と)く 機に因って法を説く#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese

Idioms
* 機(き)が熟(じゅく)する (ki ga jukusuru): the time is ripe; a golden opportunity
* 機(き)に乗(じょう)じる (ki ni jōjiru), 機(き)に投(とう)じる (ki ni tōjiru): to sieze the moment, to jump at the chance
* 機(き)に臨(のぞ)み変(へん)に応(おう)ずる (ki ni nozomi hen ni ōzuru), 機(き)に応(おう)ずる (ki ni ōzuru): to move with the times
* 機(き)に因(よ)って法(ほう)を説(と)く (ki ni yotte hō o toku): to change the message to suit one's audience: to alter the format or presentation for better acceptance, without changing the core ideas being conveyed
* 機(き)を逸(いっ)する (ki o issuru), 機(き)を失(しっ)する (ki o shissuru): to miss the boat, to miss out

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese

機(き)が熟(じゅく)する 機が熟する#Japanese

機(き)に乗(じょう)じる 機に乗じる#Japanese

機(き)に投(とう)じる 機に投じる#Japanese

機(き)に応(おう)ずる 機に応ずる#Japanese

機(き)を逸(いっ)する 機を逸する#Japanese

機(き)を失(しっ)する 機を失する#Japanese


草

From the resemblance of multiple repetitions of w (w, “LOL”) to grass: wwwwwwwww.
Possibly influenced by the term くすくす (kusukusu), an adverb indicating stifled laughter.

鯖落ちてて草

下手すぎて草

4日しかないのは草

tube-de-shokai-saretete-kusa

It was interesting that was introduced in YouTube.

Ellipsis of 草生える (kusa haeru, literally “grass grows”): (Internet slang) … it's hilarious


華

Kyūjitai
Old Japanese language
Proto-Japonic language
Shinjitai
Tōkyō
Ōsaka

/pana/ → /fana/ → /hana/
From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *pana.

火事(かじ)と喧嘩(けんか)は江戸(えど)の華(はな) 火事と喧嘩は江戸の華#Japanese

火事(かじ)と喧嘩(けんか)は江戸(えど)の華(はな) (kaji to kenka wa Edo no hana)


愛してる

愛してる (canonical)
ai shiteru (romanization)

zh-l

阿姨洗鐵路／阿姨洗铁路 (āyí xǐ tiělù)

Chinese: 阿姨洗鐵路／阿姨洗铁路 (āyí xǐ tiělù)

A phrase forming a complete sentence, consisting of 愛 (ai, “love”) + して (shite, conjunctive form of verb する suru, “to do”) + いる (iru, “to be, to be doing something”). The shite iru contracts in informal speech into shiteru.

I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you

(informal) I'm in love with you, I love you


新年おめでとうございます

ja-pos

しんねん おめでとう ございます

新(しん)年(ねん)おめでとうございます • (shinnen omedetō gozaimasu)

新年おめでとうございます (canonical)
shinnen omedetō gozaimasu (romanization)


明けましておめでとうございます

ja-phrase

明けましておめでとうございます

あけまして おめでとう ございます

明(あ)けましておめでとうございます • (akemashite omedetō gozaimasu)

明けましておめでとうございます (canonical)
akemashite omedetō gozaimasu (romanization)

明けましておめでとうございます。今年もどうぞよろしく。

Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu. Kotoshi mo dōzo yoroshiku.

Happy New Year. We’ll be counting on you this year as well.


良いお年をお迎え下さい

よい おとし を おむかえ ください

良(よ)いお年(とし)をお迎(むか)え下(くだ)さい • (yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai)

良いお年をお迎え下さい (canonical)
yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai (romanization)

(formal) [I, we] wish you a happy new year (literally meet a good year)


新年明けましておめでとうございます

ja-pos

しんねん あけまして おめでとう ございます

新(しん)年(ねん)明(あ)けましておめでとうございます • (shinnen akemashite omedetō gozaimasu)

新年明けましておめでとうございます (canonical)
shinnen akemashite omedetō gozaimasu (romanization)

Can be analyzed as 新年 + 明けまして + おめでとう + ございます

com

新年 + 明けまして + おめでとう + ございます


謹賀新年

謹賀新年 (canonical)
kinga shinnen (romanization)

[kʲĩŋɡa̠ ɕĩnːẽ̞ɴ]


こちらこそ

こちら (kochira, “this person, I”) + こそ (koso, “it is… that”)

com-ja

literally: this way, for sure; as in the thanks/apology should really be going this way (your way)

A: 「どうもありがとう。」 B: 「こちらこそ。」

A: "Thank you very much." B: "No, thank you."

A: 「ごめんなさい。」 B: 「いいえ、こちらこそ。ごめんなさい。」

A: "Forgive me." B: "No, I'm the one that should be sorry. Forgive me."

A: "Gomen nasai." B: "Īe, kochira koso. Gomen nasai."

(used as a response) I'm the one that should really be saying that.


お預かりします

お預かりします (canonical)
o-azukari shimasu (romanization)

一万円お預かり致します。

"I'll take care of it." Set phrase said by cashier while receiving payment from a customer.


気を付けて

気を付けて (canonical)
ki o tsukete (romanization)

Watch yourself, be careful, literally, "keep your health"


ちゅう

chū (romanization)
tifu (romanization)
ちふ (hiragana historical)

⟨to₂ ipu⟩ → */tipu/ → /t͡sifu/ → /t͡ɕɨu/ → /t͡ɕuː/
Shift from Old Japanese と言ふ (to ipu → to iu). Compare てふ (tepu) → ちょう (chō).

佐左浪乃連庫山尓雲居者雨會零智否反来吾背

Sasanami no Namikura-yama ni kumo ireba ame zo furu chū kaeri ko waga se


五十歩百歩

ja-pos

五(ご)十(じっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) or 五(ご)十(じゅっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) • (gojippo hyappo or gojuppo hyappo)

五十歩百歩 (canonical)
五十歩百歩 (canonical)
gojippo hyappo (romanization)
gojuppo hyappo (romanization)

[ɡo̞ʑɨp̚po̞ ça̠p̚po̞]

Shortening of 五十歩をもって百歩を笑う (gojippo o motte hyappo o warau, “to laugh at a hundred steps after having [gone] fifty steps”), in turn ultimately a learned borrowing from Chinese 五十步笑百步 (wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù, literally “fifty steps laughs at one hundred steps”), from a story by Mencius wherein two characters are running away from a battle and the one going fifty steps laughs at the one having gone one hundred steps for being a coward. The point of the expression is that both have run away, and the difference is purely a matter of degree.
The longer form is first cited to 1714, and the shortened form is first cited to around 1716. The shortened form now appears to have replaced the longer form.

lbor

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black

six of one, half a dozen of the other
six of one, half a dozen of the other

pot calling the kettle black; six of one, half a dozen of the other

目糞鼻糞を笑う

目糞鼻糞 めくそはなくそ

the eye booger laughs at the nose booger

目糞鼻糞

目糞鼻糞 めくそはなくそ


以上

以上 (canonical)
ijō (romanization)
izyau (romanization)
いじやう (hiragana historical)

that's it. (used at the end of a text to indicate that there is nothing further)


希ガス

From 希 (ki, “rare”) + ガス (gasu, “gas”). Compare Chinese 稀有氣體／稀有气体 (xīyǒu qìtǐ), Vietnamese khí hiếm (literally “rare gas”).
希 is a daiyōji replacing 稀.

cog

(Internet slang) Clipping of 気がする (ki ga suru).


話せばわかる

話せばわかる (canonical)
hanaseba wakaru (romanization)

A phrase forming a complete sentence, consisting of 話せば (hanaseba, “if sb. talks”, conditional form of verb 話す hanasu, “to talk”) + わかる (wakaru, “to understand”). Literally, "If I talk, you (will) understand".

話せばわかる。じっくり話し合おうよ。

You'll understand if you let me explain. How about we talk this over?

You'll understand if you let me explain. You'll be convinced if you listen to me.

問答無用

問答無用 もんどうむよう


問答無用

問答無用 (canonical)
mondō muyō (romanization)

From 問(もん)答(どう) (mondō, “dialogue”) + 無(む)用(よう) (muyō, “uselessness, futility”).

ja-compound

1932, Inukai Tsuyoshi, Assassins of Inukai Tsuyoshi, May 15 incident:

犬養毅：話せばわかる。
暗殺者：問答無用、撃て！

Inukai tsuyoshi: Hanaseba wakaru.
Ansatsu sha: Mondō muyō, ute!

Inukai Tsuyoshi: You'll be convinced if you just listen to me.
Assassins: No argument, shoot him!

(there is) no use in arguing; dialogue is useless


証明終わり

証明終わり (canonical)
shōmei owari (romanization)

quod erat demonstrandum
quod erat demonstrandum

(mathematics) quod erat demonstrandum (that which was to be proved)


水を得た魚

水を得た魚 (canonical)
mizu o eta uo (romanization)

a duck to water
like a duck takes to water

(idiomatic) "a fish who's found water" → In one's element, a duck to water.


さかずき

From Old Japanese.
Compound of 酒 (saka, combining form of sake, “Japanese rice wine”) + 坏 (tsuki, “shallow bowl”). The tsuki changes to zuki as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

com

杯(さかずき)をする 杯をする#Japanese


船頭多くして船山に登る

ja-pos

せんどう おおく して ふね やま に のぼる

船(せん)頭(どう)多(おお)くして船(ふね)山(やま)に登(のぼ)る • (sendō ōku shite fune yama ni noboru)

船頭多くして船山に登る (canonical)
sendō ōku shite fune yama ni noboru (romanization)

[sẽ̞ndo̞ː o̞ːkɯ̟ ɕite̞ ɸɯ̟ne̞ ja̠ma̠ ɲ̟i no̞bo̞ɾɯ̟]

Literally, the boat with many captains will be driven up a mountain.
Compare Korean 사공(沙工)이 많으면 배가 산(山)으로 간다 (sagong'i maneumyeon baega saneuro ganda).

cog

사공(沙工)이 많으면 배가 산(山)으로 간다

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth


日向

Compound of 日 (hi, “sun”) + な (na, Old Japanese possessive particle) + た (ta, “direction, side”).
The ta element is found in terms such as あなた (anata, “you”, originally “that side (distant)”), そなた (sonata, “you”, archaic; originally “that side (nearby)”).

com

日向(ひなた)に氷(こおり) 日向に氷#Japanese

日向(ひなた)に氷(こおり) (hinata ni kōri, “ice in sun → melting → gradually disappearing”)

陰(かげ)になり日向(ひなた)になり 陰になり日向になり#Japanese

陰(かげ)になり日向(ひなた)になり (kage ni nari hinata ni nari)

夏は日向を行け冬は日陰を行け#Japanese

夏(なつ)は日向(ひなた)を行(ゆ)け冬(ふゆ)は日(ひ)陰(かげ)を行(ゆ)け (natsu wa hinata o yuke fuyu wa hikage o yuke)


何歳ですか

何歳ですか？ (canonical)
nansai desu ka? (romanization)


仕方がない

仕方がない (canonical)
shikata ga nai (romanization)

Phrase composed of 仕方がない (shikata ga nai, literally “there is no way”).

it can't be helped, nothing can be done about it, have no choice, c'est la vie, it is what it is

it cannot be borne, one cannot help but (+ verb)


急急如律令

ja-phrase

きゅうきゅう-にょ-りつりょう

きふきふ-によ-りつりやう

急(きゅう)急(きゅう)如(にょ)律(りつ)令(りょう) • (kyūkyū-nyo-ritsuryō) ^(←きふきふによりつりやう (kifukifu-nyo-rituryau)?)

急急如律令 (canonical)
kyūkyū-nyo-ritsuryō (romanization)
kifukifu-nyo-rituryau (romanization)
きふきふによりつりやう (hiragana historical)

[kʲɨːkʲɨːɲ̟o̞ɾʲit͡sɨɾʲo̞ː]

From Middle Chinese 急急如律令 (MC kip kip nyo|nyoH lwit ljen|ljeng|leng|ljengH|lengH).

ltc-l

(Onmyodo) An incantation used to ward off evil spirits.


少々

ja-pos

少(しょう)々(しょう) • (shōshō) ^(←せうせう (seuseu)?)

少々 (canonical)
shōshō (romanization)
seuseu (romanization)
せうせう (hiragana historical)


どう致しまして

どう致しまして (canonical)
dō itashimashite (romanization)


明けましておめでとう

明けましておめでとう (canonical)
akemashite omedetō (romanization)

Happy New Year, used on and after New Year's Day.


左鮃右鰈

ひだり ひらめ みぎ かれい

左(ひだり)鮃(ひらめ)右(みぎ)鰈(かれい) • (hidari hirame migi karei)

左鮃右鰈 (canonical)
hidari hirame migi karei (romanization)

Literally, "left [is] olive flounder, right [is] righteye flounder."

The way to distinguish an olive flounder from a righteye flounder. 鮃(ひらめ) (hirame, “olive flounder”) can be distinguished from 鰈(かれい) (karei, “righteye flounder”) by noting that the eyes of the former are on the left and the eyes of the latter are on the right.


ありがとうございました

ありがとう ございました

2012 August 17, Yoshikawa Miki, “第(だい)14(じゅうよん)話(わ) 心(しん)技(ぎ)一(いっ)休(きゅう)。 [Chapter 14: Shingi Ikkyū.]”, in 山(やま)田(だ)くんと7(しち)人(にん)の魔(ま)女(じょ) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches], volume 2 (fiction), Kodansha:

You helped me a great deal today. Thank you very much.

本日は大変お世話になりまして どうも有り難うございました

Honjitsu wa taihen o-sewa ni narimashite Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita


猫も杓子も

猫(ねこ)も杓(しゃく)子(し)も • (neko mo shakushi mo)

猫も杓子も (canonical)
neko mo shakushi mo (romanization)

everyone and their dog
everyone and their dog

everyone and their dog; literally “cats and ladles too”


猫の手も借りたい

ねこ の て も かりたい

猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたい • (neko no te mo karitai)

猫の手も借りたい (canonical)
neko no te mo karitai (romanization)

年の暮れは、海苔生産者は、猫の手も借りたいほど忙しい。

Toshi no kure wa, nori seisansha wa, neko no te mo karitai hodo isogashii.

At the end of the year producers of nori are so busy there aren't enough hours in the day.

not enough hours in the day
not enough hours in the day

(idiomatic) so busy there are not enough hours in the day; lit. to want to borrow even the paw of a cat


頂きます

頂きます (canonical)
itadakimasu (romanization)

The regular formal or polite conjugation of humble verb 頂(いただ)く (itadaku, “to humbly receive”).

(humble, polite) to eat; I will eat, let's eat


赤縄を結ぶ

赤縄を結ぶ (canonical)
sekijō o musubu (romanization)

The bethrothed are to tie the knot. The newlyweds' fingers are bound together by a red rope, symbolizing that their destinies are now bound forever.


沈魚落雁

沈魚落雁 (canonical)
chingyorakugan (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 沈魚落雁 (MC drim ngjo lak ngaenH).

(idiomatic) Beauty truly can be stunning. Lit. Such was her beauty that, in a fluster, fish sank to the bottom of the sea and geese dropped from the sky.


衣錦の栄

衣錦の栄 (canonical)
ikin no ei (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 衣錦之榮 (MC 'j+j kimX tsyi hjwaeng), related to Chinese 衣錦還鄉／衣锦还乡 (yījǐnhuánxiāng).

zh-l

衣錦還鄉／衣锦还乡 (yījǐnhuánxiāng)

return of the prodigal son
return of the prodigal son

The return of the prodigal son. Lit. The glory of returning to one's village wearing golden embroidery.


多々益々善し

ja-pos

た た ます ます よし

多(た)々(た)益(ます)々(ます)善(よ)し • (ta ta masu masu yoshi)

多々益々善し (canonical)
ta ta masu masu yoshi (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 多多益善 (duōduōyìshàn).


鶏群の一鶴

ja-pos

鶏(けい)群(ぐん)の一(いっ)鶴(かく) • (keigun no ikkaku)

鶏群の一鶴 (canonical)
keigun no ikkaku (romanization)

Based on a passage from the Book of Jin.
Semi-calque of Chinese 鶴立雞群／鹤立鸡群 (hèlìjīqún, literally “a single crane standing out amongst a flock of chickens”).

calque

a great man standing out among the crowd


舟に刻みて剣を求む

ja-pos

ふね に きざみて けん を もとむ

舟(ふね)に刻(きざ)みて剣(けん)を求(もと)む • (fune ni kizamite ken o motomu)

舟に刻みて剣を求む (canonical)
fune ni kizamite ken o motomu (romanization)

Literally, “to carve a mark on a ship (where a sword was dropped into the sea) in the hope of finding the sword later near that carving”. Calque of Literary Chinese 刻舟求劍 (kèzhōuqiújiàn).

calque

(figuratively) Foolish it is to ignore that times are changing.


門前雀羅を張る

ja-pos

もんぜん じゃくら を はる

門(もん)前(ぜん)雀(じゃく)羅(ら)を張(は)る • (monzen jakura o haru)

門前雀羅を張る (canonical)
monzen jakura o haru (romanization)

* From Literary Chinese 門可羅雀 (ménkěluóquè).

Desolated is a door when no guests come knocking. Lit. To hang a net on the door and use it to catch sparrows (as no guests ever come).


瓜田に履を納れず、李下に冠を正さず

かでん に くつ を いれず、りか に かんむり を たださず

瓜(か)田(でん)に履(くつ)を納(い)れず、李(り)下(か)に冠(かんむり)を正(ただ)さず • (kaden ni kutsu o irezu, rika ni kanmuri o tadasazu)

瓜田に履を納れず、李下に冠を正さず (canonical)

[ka̠de̞ɲ̟ ɲ̟i kɯ̟t͡sɨ o̞ iɾe̞zɨ ɾʲika̠ ɲ̟i kã̠mːɯ̟ɾʲi o̞ ta̠da̠sa̠zɨ]

Calque from Literary Chinese 瓜田不納履，李下不整冠 (literally “Do not put on sandals in a field of melons, and do not adjust your hat under a plum tree (for you might be suspected of stealing plums and melons).”) from Cao Zhi's Jūnzǐ Xíng (《君子行》, Three Kingdoms period).

calque

かでんにくつをいれず、りかにかんむりをたださず

zh-l

*瓜田不納履，李下不整冠


骨に刻み、肝に銘ずる

ja-pos

ほね に きざみ、きも に めいずる

骨(ほね)に刻(きざ)み、肝(きも)に銘(めい)ずる • (hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru)

骨に刻み、肝に銘ずる (canonical)
hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 刻骨銘心 (kègǔmíngxīn). Literally "carved on one's bones and set in one's liver."

calque

To have one's resolve carved on the forehead.


ご馳走様

ご馳走様 (canonical)
go-chisō-sama (romanization)

ご馳走様でした ご馳走様でした#Japanese

Ellipsis of ご馳走様でした (ごちそうさまでした).


あります

arimasu (romanization)
有りませ (imperfective stem)
有りましょ (imperfective stem)
ありませ (imperfective stem)
ありましょ (imperfective stem)
arimase (imperfective)
arimasho (imperfective)
有りまし (continuative stem)
ありまし (continuative stem)
arimashi (continuative)
有ります (stem terminative)
あります (stem terminative)
arimasu (terminative)
有ります (attributive stem)
あります (attributive stem)
arimasu (attributive)
有りますれ (hypothetical stem)
ありますれ (hypothetical stem)
arimasure (hypothetical)
有りましょう (volitional)
ありましょう (volitional)
arimashō (volitional)
有りません (negative)
ありません (negative)
arimasen (negative)
有りませず (continuative negative)
ありませず (continuative negative)
arimasezu (continuative negative)
有りました (perfective)
ありました (perfective)
arimashita (perfective)
有りまして (conjunctive)
ありまして (conjunctive)
arimashite (conjunctive)
有りますれば (conditional hypothetical)
ありますれば (conditional hypothetical)
arimasureba (conditional hypothetical)

From あり (ari, 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb ある (“to exist”)) + ます (masu, polite auxiliary).

ja-com

本日は当社の創立記念日であります。

Honjitsu wa tōsha no sōritsu kinenbi de arimasu.

Today is the anniversary of the founding of our company.

Today, there exists the anniversary of the founding of our company.

(auxiliary, formal) Polite form of ある (aru)


堂堂の陣

堂堂の陣 (canonical)
dōdō no jin (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 堂堂之陣 (tángtáng zhī zhèn) from The Art of War.

calque

A disciplined, orderly army with high morale.


軽裘肥馬

ja-pos

軽裘肥馬(けいきゅうひば) • (keikyūhiba)

軽裘肥馬 (canonical)
keikyūhiba (romanization)

To be clothed in furs and ride in a carriage drawn by well fed horses. That is, the outfit in which rich people dress when they go out.


千乗の国

千乗の国 (canonical)
senjō no kuni (romanization)

[sẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑo̞ː no̞ kɯ̟ɲ̟i]

Noun phrase, composed of 千乗 (senjō, “one thousand chariots”) + の (no, possessive marker) + 国 (kuni, “country, state”).
Ultimately borrowed from Literary Chinese 千乘之國.

子曰く、千乗の国を道びくに、事を敬して信、用を節して人を愛し、民を使うに時を以てす。

Shi iwaku, senjō no kuni o michibiku ni, koto o keishite shin, yō o sesshite hito o aishi, tami o tsukau ni toki o motte su.

(ancient China) a state with a thousand chariots; (by extension) a medium-sized state


学びて思わざれば則ち罔し

まなびて おもわざれば すなわち くらし

学(まな)びて思(おも)わざれば則(すなわ)ち罔(くら)し • (manabite omowazareba sunawachi kurashi)

学びて思わざれば則ち罔し (canonical)
manabite omowazareba sunawachi kurashi (romanization)

If one learns without thinking, one will be lost in his learning. That is, if one does not think about what one learns, he will not arrive at the truth of it.


朽木糞牆

朽(きゅう)木(ぼく)糞(ふん)牆(しょう) • (kyūbokufunshō)

朽木糞牆 (canonical)
kyūbokufunshō (romanization)

From Literary Chinese 朽木糞牆／朽木粪墙 (xiǔmùfènqiáng).

zh-l

朽木糞牆／朽木粪墙 (xiǔmùfènqiáng)

A piece of rotten wood cannot be turned into something beautiful. That is, a person whose spirit is rotten cannot benefit from education.


心を配る

心を配る (canonical)
kokoro o kubaru (romanization)


旧に復する

旧に復する (canonical)
kyū ni fukusuru (romanization)

From 旧 (kyū, “old things”) + に + 復する (fukusuru, “recover”).
Literally "return old things to normal"


お腹が空いた

お腹が空いた (canonical)
onaka ga suita (romanization)

The perfective form of お腹が空く (onaka ga suku, “to become hungry”, literally “one's stomach becomes empty”).


双葉

せんだんはふたばよりかんばしい

Sendan wa futaba yori kanbashii

Genius shows from childhood

Literally “the sandalwood tree is fragrant from a sprout”


気にくわない

気にくわない (canonical)
ki ni kuwanai (romanization)

私は彼が気にくわない。

新入りのくせにでかい態度で気に食わない野郎だぜ。

Shin'iri no kuse ni dekai taido de ki ni kuwanai yarō da ze.

It makes me sick the way the new guy swaggers around like he owns the place.

(idiomatic) to be unable to stomach, sticking in one's throat


猫に小判

猫に小判 (canonical)
neko ni koban (romanization)

Phrase composed of 猫 (neko, “cat, cats”) + に (ni, “to”, directional particle) + 小判 (koban, a kind of traditional gold coin). Literally, “gold coins to cats”.
First cited to a text from 1687.

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine

to give something valuable to someone who does not understand that value: to cast pearls before swine


豚に真珠

豚に真珠 (canonical)
buta ni shinju (romanization)

Phrase composed of 豚 (buta, “pig”) + に (ni, directional particle) + 真珠 (shinju, “pearl”), calque of English cast pearls before swine.

cal

(idiomatic) "pearls to swine" → to cast pearls before swine


十人十色

ja-pos

十(じゅう)人(にん)十(と)色(いろ) • (jūnin toiro) ^(←じふにんといろ (zifunin toiro)?)

十人十色 (canonical)
jūnin toiro (romanization)
zifunin toiro (romanization)
じふにんといろ (hiragana historical)

[d͡ʑɨːɲ̟in to̞iɾo̞]

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

to each his own; different strokes for different folks; there's no accounting for taste


あらがねの

粗金の: lead-in phrase introducing the word 土 (tsuchi)


あけおめ

明けましておめでとう 明けましておめでとう#Japanese

(informal) Clipping of 明けましておめでとう (akemashite omedetō, “Happy New Year”)


あけおめことよろ

明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします 明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします#Japanese

(informal) Clipping of 明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします (akemashite omedetō, kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shi masu): an expression celebrating the new year and seeking good relations throughout the new year


メリークリスマス

[me̞ɾʲiː kɯ̟ɾʲisɨma̠sɨ]


人の世

人の世 (canonical)
hito no yo (romanization)

From 人 (hito, “person”) and 世 (yo, “world”) linked by the genitive の (no).

喜びもよし、悲しみもまたよし、人の世は雲の流れの如し。

Yorokobi mo yoshi, kanashimi mo mata yoshi, hito no yo wa kumo no nagare no gotoshi.

人の世のさまざまなるを見聞きつもるに、なほ寝覚の御仲らひばかり、浅からぬ契りながら、よに心づくしなる例は、ありがたくもありけるかな。

Fito no yo no samazamanaru wo mikiki-tsumoru ni, nafo Nezame no go-nakarafi bakari asakaranu chigiri nagara, yo ni kokorodzukushi naru rei wa, arigataku mo arikeru kana.


虎に成る

虎に成る (canonical)
tora ni naru (romanization)

[to̞ɾa̠ ɲ̟i na̠ɾɯ̟]

Literally "to become a tiger". A drunken state in which one is so wild and fearless as to be compared to a tiger.

to be so intoxicated as to be out of control; drunk


尺で鯛を釣る

しゃく で たい を つる

尺(しゃく)で鯛(たい)を釣(つ)る • (shaku de tai o tsuru)

尺で鯛を釣る (canonical)
shaku de tai o tsuru (romanization)

Literally "to catch a bream with an inchworm".

Xacu. l, xacumuxi. シャク. または, しゃくむし (尺. または, 尺虫) 歩くときに身を縮めたりしながら進む一種の小虫. Xacude taiuo tçuru. (尺で鯛を釣る) 諺. この小虫で鯛を釣って取る人のように, 小さなもので大きなものを手に入れる.

obtaining something large with something small


比を求める

比を求める (canonical)
hi o motomeru (romanization)

From 比 (hi, “ratio”) + を (o) + 求める (motomeru, “go in search of”).


きりがない

きりがない (canonical)
キリがない (canonical)
kiri ga nai (romanization)

From 切り (kiri, "limits," "bounds," "end") + が (ga) + 無い (nai, "there is no," "not").


切符を切る

切符を切る (canonical)
kippu o kiru (romanization)

From 切符 (kippu, "ticket") + を (o) + 切る (kiru, "separate from the main body").


天地無用

天地無用 (canonical)
tenchi muyō (romanization)

[tẽ̞ɲ̟t͡ɕi mɯ̟jo̞ː]

Short from 天地(てんち) (tenchi, “top and bottom”) + 入替(いれかえ) (irekae, “replace, swap”) + 無用(むよう) (muyō, “prohibited”), i.e. "swapping top and bottom is prohibited."

ja-compound

(dated) Shipping terminology to indicate that a package must not be flipped: this way up, this side up


良いお年を

良いお年を (canonical)
yoi otoshi o (romanization)

Abbreviation of 良(よ)いお年(とし)をお迎(むか)え下(くだ)さい (yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai), which is more formal and polite.

ja-r

よい おとし を おむかえ ください

Happy New Year (an expression wishing one the best for the next year, used before New Year's Day)

謹賀新年

謹賀新年 きんがしんねん


気になる

ja-verb

気(き)になる • (ki ni naru) intransitive godan (stem 気(き)になり (ki ni nari), past 気(き)になった (ki ni natta))

気になる (canonical)
ki ni naru (romanization)
気になり (stem)
気になった (past)
気になら
きになら
ki ni nara
気になり
きになり
ki ni nari
気になる
きになる
ki ni naru
気になれ
きになれ
ki ni nare
気になられる (passive)
きになられる (passive)
ki ni narareru (passive)
気にならせる (causative)
気にならす (causative)
きにならせる (causative)
きにならす (causative)
ki ni naraseru (causative)
ki ni narasu (causative)
気になれる (potential)
きになれる (potential)
ki ni nareru (potential)
気になろう (volitional)
きになろう (volitional)
ki ni narō (volitional)
気にならない (negative)
きにならない (negative)
ki ni naranai (negative)
気にならず (continuative negative)
きにならず (continuative negative)
ki ni narazu (continuative negative)
気になります (formal)
きになります (formal)
ki ni narimasu (formal)
気になった (perfective)
きになった (perfective)
ki ni natta (perfective)
気になって (conjunctive)
きになって (conjunctive)
ki ni natte (conjunctive)
気になれば (conditional hypothetical)
きになれば (conditional hypothetical)
ki ni nareba (conditional hypothetical)

病気になる

to be taken ill, to take sick, to take ill, to get sick

その頭痛が気になる。

彼女のことが気になる。

お父さんの帰りが遅いのが気になる。

Otōsan no kaeri ga osoi no ga ki ni naru.

(idiomatic) to cause concern, to be worrisome, to be on one's mind


初めまして

初めまして (canonical)
hajimemashite (romanization)

2003 August 31 [2001 December 24], Reiko Shimizu, “秘密 THE TOP SECRET(トップ・シークレット) 1999(いっせんきゅうひゃく
きゅうじゅうきゅう) [The Top Secret 1999]”, in 秘密 THE TOP SECRET(トップ・シークレット) [The Top Secret], 12th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, page 12:

はじめまして 「大統領閣下」

大統領閣下 ミスタープレジデント

pleased to meet you; nice to meet you; how do you do


万緑叢中紅一点

ja-pos

ばんりょくそうちゅう こういってん

万(ばん)緑(りょく)叢(そう)中(ちゅう)紅(こう)一(いっ)点(てん) • (banryokusōchū kōitten)

万緑叢中紅一点 (canonical)
banryokusōchū kōitten (romanization)

[bã̠n̺ɾʲo̞kɯ̟so̞ːt͡ɕɨː ko̞ːit̚tẽ̞ɴ]

Borrowed from Literary Chinese. Compare Chinese 萬綠叢中一點紅／万绿丛中一点红. Both are derived from a line in Ode to a Pomegranate Flower (咏石榴花) by Wang Anshi

zh-l

萬綠叢中一點紅／万绿丛中一点红

A single red flower blooms amidst a field of greenery. No extra spring scenery is needed to make it more lovely.

Nónglǜ wàn zhī hóng yīdiǎn, dòngrén chūnsè bùxū duō.

濃綠萬枝紅一點，動人春色不須多。

浓绿万枝红一点，动人春色不须多。

(literally) a beautiful single red flower that blooms within a field of trees and grass

(figuratively) something unique that stands out among many other things

(figuratively) a single woman among many men


言わん方無し

ja-pos

言(い)わん方(かた)無(な)し • (iwan kata nashi) ^(←いはんかたなし (ifankatanasi)?)

言わん方無し (canonical)
iwan kata nashi (romanization)
ifankatanasi (romanization)
いはんかたなし (hiragana historical)

/ipan kata nasi/ → /iɸan kata nasi/ → /iwan kata nasi/. iwan is a contraction of iwamu, from the verb 言う (iu, “to say”) in 未然形 (“irrealis”) form (iwa) plus the subjective particle む (mu). Can be thus interpreted literally as “there is no seeming way of saying”.

1008-1010: Murasaki Shikibu Nikki
秋のけはひ入たつままに、土御門殿の有さま、いはむ方なくをかし。

1832-33: Shunshoku Umegoyomi (volume 1)
[...]人品賎しからねども、薄命なる人なりけん、貧苦にせまる其うへに、此ほど病の床にふし、不自由いわん方もなき、容体もときの吉不詳[...]


私は日本人です

わたし は にほんじん です

私(わたし)は日(に)本(ほん)人(じん)です • (watashi wa nihonjin desu)

私は日本人です (canonical)
watashi wa nihonjin desu (romanization)


私は日本語が話せません

わたし は ^にほんご が はなせません

私(わたし)は日(に)本(ほん)語(ご)が話(はな)せません • (watashi wa Nihongo ga hanasemasen)

私は日本語が話せません (canonical)
watashi wa Nihongo ga hanasemasen (romanization)

[β̞a̠ta̠ɕi β̞a̠ ɲ̟ihõ̞ŋɡo̞ ɡa̠ ha̠na̠se̞ma̠sẽ̞ɴ]


ご馳走様でした

ja-phrase

ご-ちそう-さま でした

ご馳(ち)走(そう)様(さま)でした • (go-chisō-sama deshita)

ご馳走様でした (canonical)
go-chisō-sama deshita (romanization)

Phrase composed of 御 (go, honorific prefix) + 馳走 (chisō, “treat, banquet, feast”) + 様 (sama, honorific suffix) + でした (deshita, “was”, polite past-tense form of the copula だ (da)). Literally, “it was a feast”.


愛している

愛している (canonical)
aishite iru (romanization)

From 愛 (ai, “love”) and して + いる (shite iru), present progressive form of する (suru, “to do”) (see する), literally meaning 'loving'.


一期一会

ja-pos

一(いち)期(ご)一(いち)会(え) • (ichigo ichie) ^(←いちごいちゑ (itigoitiwe)?)

一期一会 (canonical)
ichigo ichie (romanization)
itigoitiwe (romanization)
いちごいちゑ (hiragana historical)

Compound of 一期 (ichigo, “one lifetime”) + 一会 (ichie, “one encounter”).

compound

You should treasure every encounter, for it will never recur.


豈図らんや

豈図らんや (canonical)
ani hakaran ya (romanization)

Adverb 豈 (ani, rhetorical interrogative) + 図ら (hakara, the irrealis of verb 図る (hakaru, “to think”)) + suppositional auxiliary ん (-n) (from -m, from -mu) + interrogative particle や (ya). Literally "(just) how could one think (such a thing so)?".

an expression of surprise to an event that is contrary to one's expectations; unexpectedly, to [one's] surprise, contrary to [one's] expectations


油断大敵

油断大敵 (canonical)
yudantaiteki (romanization)


でんごんをたのまれる

ja-phrase

でんごん を たのまれる

伝言を頼まれる 伝言を頼まれる#Japanese

伝言を頼まれる: To be given a message for someone; to be charged with a message.


誰でも

誰でも (canonical)
dare de mo (romanization)

誰でも知っている


失敗は成功の元

ja-pos

しっぱい は せいこう の もと

失(しっ)敗(ぱい)は成(せい)功(こう)の元(もと) • (shippai wa seikō no moto)

失敗は成功の元 (canonical)
shippai wa seikō no moto (romanization)

Literally, "failure is the basis of success".


失敗は成功の母

しっぱい は せいこう の はは

失(しっ)敗(ぱい)は成(せい)功(こう)の母(はは) • (shippai wa seikō no haha)

失敗は成功の母 (canonical)
shippai wa seikō no haha (romanization)

Literally, "failure is the mother of success".


寝る子は育つ

寝る子は育つ (canonical)
neru ko wa sodatsu (romanization)

a well-slept child is a well-kept child
a well-slept child is a well-kept child


メリクリ

メリークリスマス メリークリスマス#Japanese


メリークリ

メリークリスマス メリークリスマス#Japanese


心が広い

心が広い (canonical)
kokoro ga hiroi (romanization)
心が広かろ (imperfective stem)
こころがひろかろ (imperfective stem)
kokoro ga hirokaro (imperfective)
心が広く (continuative stem)
こころがひろく (continuative stem)
kokoro ga hiroku (continuative)
心が広い (stem terminative)
こころがひろい (stem terminative)
kokoro ga hiroi (terminative)
心が広い (attributive stem)
こころがひろい (attributive stem)
kokoro ga hiroi (attributive)
心が広けれ (hypothetical stem)
こころがひろけれ (hypothetical stem)
kokoro ga hirokere (hypothetical)
心が広かれ (imperative stem)
こころがひろかれ (imperative stem)
kokoro ga hirokare (imperative)
心が広くない (informal negative)
こころがひろくない (informal negative)
kokoro ga hiroku nai (informal negative)
心が広かった (informal past)
こころがひろかった (informal past)
kokoro ga hirokatta (informal past)
心が広くなかった (informal negative past)
こころがひろくなかった (informal negative past)
kokoro ga hiroku nakatta (informal negative past)
心が広いです (formal)
こころがひろいです (formal)
kokoro ga hiroi desu (formal)
心が広くないです (formal negative)
こころがひろくないです (formal negative)
kokoro ga hiroku nai desu (formal negative)
心が広かったです (formal past)
こころがひろかったです (formal past)
kokoro ga hirokatta desu (formal past)
心が広くなかったです (formal negative past)
こころがひろくなかったです (formal negative past)
kokoro ga hiroku nakatta desu (formal negative past)
心が広くて (conjunctive)
こころがひろくて (conjunctive)
kokoro ga hirokute (conjunctive)
心が広ければ (conditional)
こころがひろければ (conditional)
kokoro ga hirokereba (conditional)
心が広かったら (conditional past)
こころがひろかったら (conditional past)
kokoro ga hirokattara (conditional past)
心が広かろう (volitional)
こころがひろかろう (volitional)
kokoro ga hirokarō (volitional)
心が広く (adverbial)
こころがひろく (adverbial)
kokoro ga hiroku (adverbial)
心が広さ (noun-from-adj)
こころがひろさ (noun-from-adj)
kokoro ga hirosa (noun-from-adj)

(literally, their heart is wide) generous, big-hearted


顔が広い

顔が広い (canonical)
kao ga hiroi (romanization)
顔が広かろ (imperfective stem)
かおがひろかろ (imperfective stem)
kao ga hirokaro (imperfective)
顔が広く (continuative stem)
かおがひろく (continuative stem)
kao ga hiroku (continuative)
顔が広い (stem terminative)
かおがひろい (stem terminative)
kao ga hiroi (terminative)
顔が広い (attributive stem)
かおがひろい (attributive stem)
kao ga hiroi (attributive)
顔が広けれ (hypothetical stem)
かおがひろけれ (hypothetical stem)
kao ga hirokere (hypothetical)
顔が広かれ (imperative stem)
かおがひろかれ (imperative stem)
kao ga hirokare (imperative)
顔が広くない (informal negative)
かおがひろくない (informal negative)
kao ga hiroku nai (informal negative)
顔が広かった (informal past)
かおがひろかった (informal past)
kao ga hirokatta (informal past)
顔が広くなかった (informal negative past)
かおがひろくなかった (informal negative past)
kao ga hiroku nakatta (informal negative past)
顔が広いです (formal)
かおがひろいです (formal)
kao ga hiroi desu (formal)
顔が広くないです (formal negative)
かおがひろくないです (formal negative)
kao ga hiroku nai desu (formal negative)
顔が広かったです (formal past)
かおがひろかったです (formal past)
kao ga hirokatta desu (formal past)
顔が広くなかったです (formal negative past)
かおがひろくなかったです (formal negative past)
kao ga hiroku nakatta desu (formal negative past)
顔が広くて (conjunctive)
かおがひろくて (conjunctive)
kao ga hirokute (conjunctive)
顔が広ければ (conditional)
かおがひろければ (conditional)
kao ga hirokereba (conditional)
顔が広かったら (conditional past)
かおがひろかったら (conditional past)
kao ga hirokattara (conditional past)
顔が広かろう (volitional)
かおがひろかろう (volitional)
kao ga hirokarō (volitional)
顔が広く (adverbial)
かおがひろく (adverbial)
kao ga hiroku (adverbial)
顔が広さ (noun-from-adj)
かおがひろさ (noun-from-adj)
kao ga hirosa (noun-from-adj)

widely known, well-known, well connected


神を信じますか

かみ を しんじます か？

神(かみ)を信(しん)じますか？ • (kami o shinjimasu ka?)

神を信じますか？ (canonical)
kami o shinjimasu ka? (romanization)

do you believe in God
do you believe in God


私はイスラム教徒です

わたし は ^イスラム きょうと です

私(わたし)はイスラム教(きょう)徒(と)です • (watashi wa Isuramu kyōto desu)

私はイスラム教徒です (canonical)
watashi wa Isuramu kyōto desu (romanization)


私はユダヤ人です

ja-phrase

わたし は ^ユダヤじん です

私(わたし)はユダヤ人(じん)です • (watashi wa Yudayajin desu)

私はユダヤ人です (canonical)
watashi wa Yudayajin desu (romanization)


質問があります

質(しつ)問(もん)があります • (shitsumon ga arimasu)

質問があります (canonical)
shitsumon ga arimasu (romanization)

Comprised of 質問 (shitsumon, “question”) + が (ga, subject particle) + あります (arimasu, “there is, it is, to be”, in the polite -masu conjugation).


お元気ですか

お元気ですか。 (canonical)
o-genki desu ka? (romanization)

Literally, “are you [honorific prefix] energetic/healthy?”.

m-g

are you 􂀿honorific prefix􂁀 energetic/healthy?


人を呪わば穴二つ

ja-pos

ひと を のろわば あな ふたつ

人(ひと)を呪(のろ)わば穴(あな)二(ふた)つ • (hito o norowaba ana futatsu)

人を呪わば穴二つ (canonical)
hito o norowaba ana futatsu (romanization)

Literally "if you curse someone, there are two holes."

chickens come home to roost
chickens coming home to roost

chickens come home to roost, so you should be prepared for your curse to come back to you. Also said to admonish someone against cursing another person casually.


ローマは一日にして成らず

^ローマ は いち にち に して ならず

ローマは一(いち)日(にち)にして成(な)らず • (Rōma wa ichi nichi ni shite narazu)

ローマは一日にして成らず (canonical)
Rōma wa ichi nichi ni shite narazu (romanization)

[ɾo̞ːma̠ β̞a̠ it͡ɕiɲ̟it͡ɕi ɲ̟i ɕite̞ na̠ɾa̠zɨ]

Calque of English Rome wasn't built in a day.

calque

ろおまはいちにちにしてならず

Rome wasn't built in a day
Rome wasn't built in a day


魚心あれば水心あり

ja-pos

うお こころ あれば みず こころ あり

魚(うお)心(こころ)あれば水(みず)心(こころ)あり • (uo kokoro areba mizu kokoro ari)

魚心あれば水心あり (canonical)
uo kokoro areba mizu kokoro ari (romanization)

Literally, "if the water is kind to the fish, the fish will be kind to the water".

if you show someone favor, they will show favor to you in return


貸し借りなし

貸し借りなし (canonical)
kashikari nashi (romanization)

Composed of 貸し借り (kashikari, “lending and borrowing”) + なし (nashi, “nothing”).

the state of being square or even with someone, with nothing owed to the other party and nothing owing to oneself


頭の中が真っ白になる

あたま の なか が まっしろ に なる

頭(あたま)の中(なか)が真(ま)っ白(しろ)になる • (atama no naka ga masshiro ni naru)

頭の中が真っ白になる (canonical)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni naru (romanization)
頭の中が真っ白になら
あたまのなかがまっしろになら
atama no naka ga masshiro ni nara
頭の中が真っ白になり
あたまのなかがまっしろになり
atama no naka ga masshiro ni nari
頭の中が真っ白になる
あたまのなかがまっしろになる
atama no naka ga masshiro ni naru
頭の中が真っ白になれ
あたまのなかがまっしろになれ
atama no naka ga masshiro ni nare
頭の中が真っ白になられる (passive)
あたまのなかがまっしろになられる (passive)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni narareru (passive)
頭の中が真っ白にならせる (causative)
頭の中が真っ白にならす (causative)
あたまのなかがまっしろにならせる (causative)
あたまのなかがまっしろにならす (causative)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni naraseru (causative)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni narasu (causative)
頭の中が真っ白になれる (potential)
あたまのなかがまっしろになれる (potential)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni nareru (potential)
頭の中が真っ白になろう (volitional)
あたまのなかがまっしろになろう (volitional)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni narō (volitional)
頭の中が真っ白にならない (negative)
あたまのなかがまっしろにならない (negative)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni naranai (negative)
頭の中が真っ白にならず (continuative negative)
あたまのなかがまっしろにならず (continuative negative)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni narazu (continuative negative)
頭の中が真っ白になります (formal)
あたまのなかがまっしろになります (formal)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni narimasu (formal)
頭の中が真っ白になった (perfective)
あたまのなかがまっしろになった (perfective)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni natta (perfective)
頭の中が真っ白になって (conjunctive)
あたまのなかがまっしろになって (conjunctive)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni natte (conjunctive)
頭の中が真っ白になれば (conditional hypothetical)
あたまのなかがまっしろになれば (conditional hypothetical)
atama no naka ga masshiro ni nareba (conditional hypothetical)


笑う門には福来る

わらう かど に は ふく きたる

笑(わら)う門(かど)には福(ふく)来(きた)る • (warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru)

笑う門には福来る (canonical)
warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru (romanization)

[β̞a̠ɾa̠ɯ̟ ka̠do̞ ɲ̟i β̞a̠ ɸɯ̟kɯ̟ kʲita̠ɾɯ̟]

Phrase consisting of 笑う (warau, “to laugh”) + 門 (kado, “gate, door; house, household; family”) + に (ni, directional particle) + は (wa, topic and contrastive particle) + 福 (fuku, “good fortune”) + 来る (kitaru, “to come along, to make its way to”).
First cited to a text from the late 1500s.

good fortune comes to the homes of those who smile

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten


薬を付ける

薬を付ける (canonical)
kusuri o tsukeru (romanization)

From 薬 (kusuri, "drug," "medicine") + を + 付ける (tsukeru, "apply", "put on").


元気を付ける

元気を付ける (canonical)
genki o tsukeru (romanization)

From 元気 (genki, "vigor," "spirits") + を + 付ける (tsukeru, "give", "impart").


読み付けている

読み付けている (canonical)
yomitsukete iru (romanization)

From 読み付けて, conjunctive form of 読み付ける (yomitsukeru, "be accustomed to reading") + いる (iru, "be").


付けを払う

付けを払う (canonical)
tsuke o harau (romanization)

From 付け (tsuke, "bill") + を + 払う (harau, "pay," "settle accounts").


付けで買う

付けで買う (canonical)
tsuke de kau (romanization)

From 付け (tsuke, "account," "credit") + で + 買う (kau, "buy," "purchase").


行き付け

行き付け (canonical)
ikitsuke (romanization)

From 行き (iki, 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 行(い)く (iku, “to go”)) + つけ (-tsuke, “accustomed”).

af

私の行き付けのカフェ。


安く付く

安く付く (canonical)
yasuku tsuku (romanization)

From 安く (yasuku, "inexpensively") + 付く (tsuku, "cost," "amount to").


目に付く

目に付く (canonical)
me ni tsuku (romanization)

From 目 (me, "watchful eye," "attention") + に + 付く (tsuku, "be perceived").

catch one's eye, attract one's attention


付きが良い

付きが良い (canonical)
tsuki ga yoi (romanization)


ご苦労様でした

ja-pos

ご-くろう-さま でした

ご苦(く)労(ろう)様(さま)でした • (go-kurō-sama deshita)

ご苦労様でした (canonical)
go-kurō-sama deshita (romanization)

I appreciate your efforts, thank you very much, good work (a stock phrase usually used by a senior towards subordinates)


お疲れ様でした

お-つかれ-さま でした

お疲(つか)れ様(さま)でした • (o-tsukare-sama deshita)

お疲れ様でした (canonical)
o-tsukare-sama deshita (romanization)

Consists of お (o, honorific prefix) + 疲れ (tsukare, “tiredness, fatigue”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem form”) of verb 疲れる (tsukareru, “to become tired or fatigued”) + 様 (sama, honorific suffix) + でした (deshita, “it was”, past tense of copula です (desu, “it is”)).

I appreciate your efforts, thank you very much, good work


あるいは

[a̠ɾɯ̟iβ̞a̠]

ある (aru, “to be, to exist”, 連体形 (rentaikei) of the classical verb あり (ari)) + い (i, nominalizing suffix) + は (wa, topic marker). Arose from 漢文訓読 (kanbun kundoku).

compound

c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari
あるいは笛を吹き、あるいは歌をうたひ、…
Arui wa fue o fuki, arui wa uta o utai, …
Some [of the young noblemen] played the flute, some sang songs, …

(usually repeated in the form あるいは…あるいは… (arui wa … arui wa …), obsolete) some; some people; something; sometimes


リンクフリー

→ English: link free

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from link + free

pseudo-loan

(Internet) Feel free to link to my website (no permission needed).


二度ある事は三度ある

ja-pos

にど ある こと は さんど ある

二(に)度(ど)ある事(こと)は三(さん)度(ど)ある • (nido aru koto wa sando aru)

二度ある事は三度ある (canonical)
nido aru koto wa sando aru (romanization)

what happens twice will happen three times, if it happens twice it will happen again


喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる

のどもと すぎれば あつさ を わすれる

喉(のど)元(もと)過(す)ぎれば熱(あつ)さを忘(わす)れる • (nodomoto sugireba atsusa o wasureru)

喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる (canonical)
nodomoto sugireba atsusa o wasureru (romanization)

Literally, "you forget the heat once it passes your throat," meaning that once you swallow something that's too hot, you feel relieved and are apt to eat something just as hot again.

once on shore, we pray no more
once on shore, we pray no more

danger past and God forgotten
danger past and God forgotten

once on shore, we pray no more, danger past and God forgotten


情けは人の為ならず

なさけ は ひと の ため ならず

情(なさ)けは人(ひと)の為(ため)ならず • (nasake wa hito no tame narazu)

情けは人の為ならず (canonical)
nasake wa hito no tame narazu (romanization)

good done to others is good done to oneself


踏んだり蹴ったり

踏んだり蹴ったり (canonical)
fundari kettari (romanization)

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours


提灯に釣鐘

ちょうちん に つりがね

提(ちょう)灯(ちん)に釣(つり)鐘(がね) • (chōchin ni tsurigane)

提灯に釣鐘 (canonical)
chōchin ni tsurigane (romanization)

[t͡ɕo̞ːt͡ɕiɲ̟ ɲ̟i t͡sɨɾʲiɡa̠ne̞]

paper lanterns to temple bells; there is no comparison as though look similar, they are completely different


知らぬが仏

知らぬが仏 (canonical)
shiranu ga hotoke (romanization)


下手の長談義

下手(へた)の長(なが)談(だん)義(ぎ) • (heta no nagadangi)

下手の長談義 (canonical)
heta no nagadangi (romanization)

brevity is the soul of wit
brevity is the soul of wit


身から出た錆

身から出た錆 (canonical)
mi kara deta sabi (romanization)

reap what one sows, getting one's just deserts


泣きっ面に蜂

泣(な)きっ面(つら)に蜂(はち) • (nakittsura ni hachi)

泣きっ面に蜂 (canonical)
nakittsura ni hachi (romanization)


氏より育ち

氏より育ち (canonical)
uji yori sodachi (romanization)

nurture counts more than nature, breeding over birth


腐っても鯛

腐っても鯛 (canonical)
kusatte mo tai (romanization)

something that retains its value even when it is damaged


馬子にも衣装

馬(ま)子(ご)にも衣(い)装(しょう) • (mago ni mo ishō)

馬子にも衣装 (canonical)
mago ni mo ishō (romanization)

clothes don't make the man
clothes don't make the man

clothes don't make the man, anybody can look good if well dressed


論語読みの論語知らず

ろんご よみ の ろんご しらず

論(ろん)語(ご)読(よ)みの論(ろん)語(ご)知(し)らず • (rongo yomi no rongo shirazu)

論語読みの論語知らず (canonical)
rongo yomi no rongo shirazu (romanization)

learned fool; scholar who cannot apply what he or she knows; mere scholar


糠に釘

糠に釘 (canonical)
nuka ni kugi (romanization)

[nɯ̟ka̠ ɲ̟i kɯ̟ɡʲi]


豆腐に鎹

豆腐に鎹 (canonical)
tōfu ni kasugai (romanization)


焼け石に水

焼け石に水 (canonical)
yake ishi ni mizu (romanization)

焼(や)け (yake, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 焼(や)ける (yakeru)) + 石(いし) (ishi) + に (ni) + 水(みず) (mizu). Literally "water on a hot stone".

ja-compound

vain attempt due to inadequate efforts; a drop in the bucket; a drop in the ocean


骨折り損の草臥れ儲け

ja-pos

ほねおりぞん の くたびれ もうけ

骨(ほね)折(お)り損(ぞん)の草臥(くたび)れ儲(もう)け • (honeorizon no kutabire mōke)

骨折り損の草臥れ儲け (canonical)
honeorizon no kutabire mōke (romanization)

骨(ほね)折(お)り損(ぞん) (honeorizon, “efforts in vain”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 草臥(くたび)れる (kutabireru, “be exhausted”) + 儲(もう)ける (mōkeru, “to profit”)


残り物には福がある

ja-pos

のこりもの に は ふく が ある

残(のこ)り物(もの)には福(ふく)がある • (nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru)

残り物には福がある (canonical)
nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru (romanization)

there is unexpected good in what is left behind by others


三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにん よれば もんじゅ の ちえ

三(さん)人(にん)寄(よ)れば文(もん)殊(じゅ)の知(ち)恵(え) • (sannin yoreba monju no chie)

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 (canonical)
sannin yoreba monju no chie (romanization)

two heads are better than one
two heads are better than one


負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡る

おうた こ に おしえられて あさせ を わたる

負(お)うた子(こ)に教(おし)えられて浅(あさ)瀬(せ)を渡(わた)る • (ōta ko ni oshierarete asase o wataru)

負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡る (canonical)
ōta ko ni oshierarete asase o wataru (romanization)

a fool may give a wise man council, one may learn something from someone inferior or less knowledgeable


目糞鼻糞を笑う

めくそ はなくそ を わらう

目(め)糞(くそ)鼻(はな)糞(くそ)を笑(わら)う • (mekuso hanakuso o warau)

目糞鼻糞を笑う (canonical)
mekuso hanakuso o warau (romanization)

Literally, “the eye booger laughing at the nose booger”.

lit

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black

五十歩百歩

五十歩百歩 ごじゅっぽひゃっぽ


故郷に錦を飾る

ja-pos

こきょう に にしき を かざる

故(こ)郷(きょう)に錦(にしき)を飾(かざ)る • (kokyō ni nishiki o kazaru)

故郷に錦を飾る (canonical)
kokyō ni nishiki o kazaru (romanization)

Clipped from Xiang Yu's story in the Records of the Grand Historian (in Literary Chinese)

Seeing the palace of Qin was burnt to the ground, Xiang Yu wondered if he should go eastward to his hometown, saying: "To not return home when one has made his fortune is like walking in the night with silken robes, who will notice?"

The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Xiàng wáng jiàn Qín gōng jiē yǐ shāo cánpò, yòu xīnhuái sī yù dōng guī, yuē: “Fùguì bù guī gùxiāng, rú yījǐn yèxíng, shéi zhī zhī zhě?”

項王見秦宮皆以燒殘破，又心懷思欲東歸，曰：「富貴不歸故鄉、如衣錦夜行、誰知之者？」

项王见秦宫皆以烧残破，又心怀思欲东归，曰：「富贵不归故乡、如衣锦夜行、谁知之者？」


鬼に金棒

鬼に金棒 (canonical)
oni ni kanabō (romanization)

鬼 (oni) + に (ni) + 金棒 (kanabō). Literally "[giving] a metal club to a demon". The idiom in general is first cited in a text from 1472 as the longer variant 鬼に金砕棒 (oni ni kana saibō); this shorter form is cited from 1645.

making someone or something even stronger, adding a decisive advantage

(for negative situations) making a bad situation worse


年寄りの冷や水

年(とし)寄(よ)りの冷(ひ)や水(みず) • (toshiyori no hiyamizu)

年寄りの冷や水 (canonical)
toshiyori no hiyamizu (romanization)


火に油を注ぐ

ひ に あぶら を そそぐ

火(ひ)に油(あぶら)を注(そそ)ぐ • (hi ni abura o sosogu)

火に油を注ぐ (canonical)
hi ni abura o sosogu (romanization)
火に油を注が
ひにあぶらをそそが
hi ni abura o sosoga
火に油を注ぎ
ひにあぶらをそそぎ
hi ni abura o sosogi
火に油を注ぐ
ひにあぶらをそそぐ
hi ni abura o sosogu
火に油を注げ
ひにあぶらをそそげ
hi ni abura o sosoge
火に油を注がれる (passive)
ひにあぶらをそそがれる (passive)
hi ni abura o sosogareru (passive)
火に油を注がせる (causative)
火に油を注がす (causative)
ひにあぶらをそそがせる (causative)
ひにあぶらをそそがす (causative)
hi ni abura o sosogaseru (causative)
hi ni abura o sosogasu (causative)
火に油を注げる (potential)
ひにあぶらをそそげる (potential)
hi ni abura o sosogeru (potential)
火に油を注ごう (volitional)
ひにあぶらをそそごう (volitional)
hi ni abura o sosogō (volitional)
火に油を注がない (negative)
ひにあぶらをそそがない (negative)
hi ni abura o sosoganai (negative)
火に油を注がず (continuative negative)
ひにあぶらをそそがず (continuative negative)
hi ni abura o sosogazu (continuative negative)
火に油を注ぎます (formal)
ひにあぶらをそそぎます (formal)
hi ni abura o sosogimasu (formal)
火に油を注いだ (perfective)
ひにあぶらをそそいだ (perfective)
hi ni abura o sosoida (perfective)
火に油を注いで (conjunctive)
ひにあぶらをそそいで (conjunctive)
hi ni abura o sosoide (conjunctive)
火に油を注げば (conditional hypothetical)
ひにあぶらをそそげば (conditional hypothetical)
hi ni abura o sosogeba (conditional hypothetical)

[çi ɲ̟i a̠bɯ̟ɾa̠ o̞ so̞so̞ɡɯ̟]

Literally “to pour oil on a fire”. Translation of the English idiom. First attested in the early 1900s.

add fuel to the fire
add fuel to the fire


好きこそものの上手なれ

すき こそ もの の じょうず なれ

好(す)きこそものの上(じょう)手(ず)なれ • (suki koso mono no jōzu nare)

好きこそものの上手なれ (canonical)
suki koso mono no jōzu nare (romanization)

[sɨkʲi ko̞so̞ mo̞no̞ no̞ d͡ʑo̞ːzɨ na̠ɾe̞]

What you like to do, you will do well. To improve your skills in something, you must enjoy doing it.


濡れ手で粟

濡れ手で粟 (canonical)
nure te de awa (romanization)

[nɯ̟ɾe̞ te̞ de̞ a̠β̞a̠]

Idiom formed by combination of 濡れ手 and 粟. Literally "millet with wet hands". Foxtail millet sticks to wet hands, so this idiom describes reward without effort.


坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎い

坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎い

ぼうず にくけりゃ けさ まで にくい

坊(ぼう)主(ず)憎(にく)けりゃ袈(け)裟(さ)まで憎(にく)い • (bōzu nikukerya kesa made nikui)

坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎い (canonical)
bōzu nikukerya kesa made nikui (romanization)

Literally “hate a monk, and you will hate his very robes”.

love me, love my dog
love me, love my dog

love me, love my dog; hating everything about a person


百聞は一見に如かず

ひゃくぶん は いっけん に しかず

百(ひゃく)聞(ぶん)は一(いっ)見(けん)に如(し)かず • (hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu)

百聞は一見に如かず (canonical)
hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu (romanization)

[ça̠kɯ̟bɯ̟ɰ̃ β̞a̠ ik̚ke̞ɲ̟ ɲ̟i ɕika̠zɨ]

Calque of Literary Chinese 百聞不如一見 (bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn, literally “Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once”). From the Book of Han.

cal

you understand better by seeing for yourself than hearing about it, seeing is believing


七転び八起き

ja-pos

七(なな)転(ころ)び八(や)起(お)き • (nana korobi ya oki)

七転び八起き (canonical)
nana korobi ya oki (romanization)

Literally “seven times falling down, eight times rising up”.


や否や

や否や (canonical)
ya ina ya (romanization)


折に触れて

折に触れて (canonical)
ori ni furete (romanization)

折 + に + 触れて, literally "to touch the opportunities"

スタッフの研修については折に触れて積極的に取り入れていく所存です。

Sutaffu no kenshū ni tsuite wa ori ni furete sekkyokuteki ni torīreteiku shozon desu.

We are positively planning on getting our staffs in the proper training from time to time.

(idiomatic) whenever possible, at every opportunity, occasionally


猫に鰹節

猫(ねこ)に鰹(かつお)節(ぶし) • (neko ni katsuobushi)

猫に鰹節 (canonical)
neko ni katsuobushi (romanization)

Literally a “cat in skipjack tuna flakes”.

setting a wolf to mind the sheep; fox in the henhouse


右に同じ

右に同じ (canonical)
migi ni onaji (romanization)

Literally "same as [the person to] the right".


その通り

その通り (canonical)
sono tōri (romanization)

you can say that again
you can say that again

That's right, you can say that again (that is very true), quite so, I agree


二階から目薬

に-かい から めぐすり

二(に)階(かい)から目(め)薬(ぐすり) • (ni-kai kara megusuri)

二階から目薬 (canonical)
ni-kai kara megusuri (romanization)

Literally, "eyedrops from the second floor".

being roundabout or indirect to the point of being ineffective, often irritatingly so


雀の涙

雀の涙 (canonical)
suzume no namida (romanization)

Compound of 雀 (suzume, “sparrow”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 涙 (namida, “tears”). Literally meaning "(as little as) tears of a sparrow".


念には念を入れよ

ja-pos

ねん に は ねん を いれよ

念(ねん)には念(ねん)を入(い)れよ • (nen ni wa nen o ireyo)

念には念を入れよ (canonical)
nen ni wa nen o ireyo (romanization)

look before you leap
look before you leap

look before you leap, one should think twice before doing something


ああ言えばこう言う

ああ いえば こう いう

ああ言(い)えばこう言(い)う • (ā ieba kō iu)

ああ言えばこう言う (canonical)
ā ieba kō iu (romanization)

having a comeback or excuse for everything one is told, being smart in the sense of having a smart mouth


手が早い

手が早い (canonical)
te ga hayai (romanization)


さもないと

然も無いと 然も無いと#Japanese


紀元前

[kʲiɡẽ̞nd͡zẽ̞ɴ]

紀元前1500年頃

(before year number) before the Common Era; before Christ


肉屋

肉(にく)屋(や)を支持(しじ)する豚(ぶた) 肉屋を支持する豚#Japanese

like turkeys voting for Christmas
like turkeys voting for Christmas

肉(にく)屋(や)を支持(しじ)する豚(ぶた) (nikuya o shijisuru buta, “like turkeys voting for Christmas”, literally “pigs who support butchers”)


然もありなん

然もありなん (canonical)
samoarinan (romanization)


然に非ず

然に非ず (canonical)
sa ni arazu (romanization)

(that is) not the case, (that is) not so


何も彼も

何も彼も (canonical)
nanimokamo (romanization)


何が何でも

何が何でも (canonical)
nani ga nan demo (romanization)


やらん

Contraction of Old Japanese phrase にやあらむ, consisting of に (ni, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative form”) of concluding auxiliary verb なり nari) + や (ya, coordinating particle, expressing a question or doubt) + あら (the 未然形 (mizenkei, “imperfective form”) of verb ある aru “to be”) + む (mu, auxiliary verb, expressing a guess or hope regarding an outcome or result). Literal meaning is roughly “isn't it so?”
/ni ya aramu/ → /yaramu/ → /yaran/
The yaramu form is already seen in the Man'yōshū, dated to around 760.

When used at the end of a sentence. Replaced in modern standard Japanese by だろう (darō) in casual informal speech, and でしょう (deshō) in more generally polite speech.

When used mid-sentence following a noun. Generally preceded by adverbial particle と (to).

(archaic, dialect) expresses uncertainty or indefiniteness


もう一回

もう一回 (canonical)
mō ikkai (romanization)


もう一度

もう一度 (canonical)
mō ichido (romanization)


そうですね

そうですね • (sō desu ne) ^(←さうですね (sau desu ne)?)

sō desu ne (romanization)
sau desu ne (romanization)
さうですね (hiragana historical)

hmm (used to indicate that the listener has heard and understood)

well (as a filler word particularly at the beginning of a response to a question)


安らかに眠れ

安らかに眠れ (canonical)
yasuraka ni nemure (romanization)


これは何ですか

ja-phrase

これ は なん です か

これは何ですか (canonical)
kore wa nan desu ka (romanization)

Phrase composed of これ (kore, “this”) + は (topic particle) + 何 (nan, “what”, combining form, usually nani) + です (desu, copula: “is, am, be,” etc.) + か (ka, sentence-final question particle).


なにがなんでも

何が何でも 何が何でも#Japanese


ゲームオーバー

ゲームオーバー • (gēmu ōbā)

[ɡe̞ːmɯ̟ o̞ːba̠ː]


雨が降っている

雨が降っている (canonical)
ame ga futte iru (romanization)


メンチきる

メンチ切る メンチ切る#Japanese

メンチを切る メンチを切る#Japanese


メンチ切る

メンチ切る (canonical)
menchi kiru (romanization)

何メンチ切ってんねん。

メンチを切る メンチを切る#Japanese


お邪魔します

お邪魔します (canonical)
o-jama shimasu (romanization)

Compound of 御(お) (o-, honorific prefix) + 邪(じゃ)魔(ま) (jama, “nuisance, bother”) + します (shimasu, formal of する (suru), “to do”).


しょうがない

Contraction of 仕(し)様(よう)がない (shiyō ga nai, literally “there is no way”).


さじをなげる

匙を投げる 匙を投げる#Japanese

匙を投げる: literally, “to throw the spoon” → to throw in the towel, to give up, to quit


一件落着

ja-phrase

一(いっ)件(けん)落(らく)着(ちゃく) • (ikkenrakuchaku)

一件落着 (canonical)
ikkenrakuchaku (romanization)

一件 (ikken, “one case”) + 落着 (rakuchaku, “settlement”)


開け胡麻

ja-pos

開(ひら)け胡(ご)麻(ま) or 開(ひら)け胡麻(ゴマ) • (hirake goma)

開け胡麻 (canonical)
開け胡麻 (canonical)
hirake goma (romanization)

From 開け (hirake, imperative form of 開く (hiraku, “to open”)) + 胡麻 (goma, “sesame”), calque of French sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.

af

imperative form of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">開く</i> (hiraku, “to open”)

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights
ja:開けゴマ


よいお年を

よいお年を (canonical)
yoi otoshi o (romanization)

Abbreviation of 良(よ)いお年(とし)をお迎(むか)え下(くだ)さい (yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai), which is more formal and polite.

ja-r

よい おとし を おむかえ ください

Happy New Year (an expression wishing one the best for the next year, used before New Year's Day)


安全第一

安全第一 (canonical)
anzen daiichi (romanization)

Phrase composed of 安全 (anzen, “safety”) + 第一 (daiichi, “first”). Calque of English safety first.
First attested in 1920 in the 秘密辞典 (Himitsu Jiten, “Secret Dictionary”). Considering the publication, the term would have been in use before then.


良い夢を

ja-phrase

良(よ)い夢(ゆめ)を or 良(い)い夢(ゆめ)を • (yoi yume o or ii yume o)

良い夢を (canonical)
良い夢を (canonical)
yoi yume o (romanization)
ii yume o (romanization)


何もかも

何もかも (canonical)
nanimokamo (romanization)


尊王攘夷

尊(そん)王(のう)攘(じょう)夷(い) • (sonnō jōi) ^(←そんわうじやうい (son'wau zyaui)?)

尊王攘夷 (canonical)
sonnō jōi (romanization)
son'wau zyaui (romanization)
そんわうじやうい (hiragana historical)

[sõ̞nːo̞ː d͡ʑo̞ːi]

revere the emperor, expel the barbarians


諸行無常

諸(しょ)行(ぎょう)無(む)常(じょう) • (shogyō mujō) ^(←しよぎやうむじやう (syogyau muzyau)?)

諸行無常 (canonical)
shogyō mujō (romanization)
syogyau muzyau (romanization)
しよぎやうむじやう (hiragana historical)

[ɕo̞ɡʲo̞ːmɯ̟ʑo̞ː]

Daijisen
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:松村明
ja:諸行無常

Buddhist expression borrowed from Chinese 諸行無常／诸行无常 (zhūxíngwúcháng), in turn a translation (directly or via Pali) of Sanskrit सर्व संस्कारा अनित्याः (sarva saṃskārā anityāḥ, literally “all deeds are impermanent”).
As Japanese, also analyzable as a compound of 諸行 (shogyō, “all things”) + 無常 (mujō, “impermanent, transient”).
The two constituent Japanese terms are citable to the early 600s, while the first citations of the full four-character phrase in Chinese are from around the mid-600s. However, the full four-character phrase in Japanese usage is first cited much later in the 観智院本三宝絵 (Kanchi-in-bon Sanbō-E), a collection of Buddhist writings from 984.

der

सर्व संस्कारा अनित्याः

compound

(Can we date this quote?), “Chapter 1.1”, in Helen Craig McCullough, transl., 平家物語 [The Tale of the Heike]:

The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind.

祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響き有り。沙羅双樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理を顕す。驕れる者も久しからず、唯春の夜の夢の如し。猛き者も遂には滅びぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。

Gionshōsha no kane no koe, shogyō mujō no hibiki ari. Sarasōju no hana no iro, jōshahissui no kotowari o arawasu. Ogoreru mono mo hisashikarazu, tada haru no yoru no yume no gotoshi. Takeki mono mo tsui ni wa horobinu, hitoeni kaze no mae no chiri ni onaji.

(Buddhism) all worldly things are transitory


のだ

Compound of particle の (no, particle of emphasis) and だ (da, auxiliary verb of assertion).

そんなことだからお前はいつまで経っても出世できないのだ。

Sonna koto da kara omae wa itsu made tatte mo shusse dekinai no da.

That's why you never get ahead in your career.

an assertion that emphasizes the cause, reasons, grounds and etc.

一刻も早く捕獲するのだ。

determination of the speaker; request to the listener to take a certain action

なんて酷いのだ。

explain something's look and state exclamatorily

一体全体どう違うのだ？

What in the name of God is the difference?

an intention to ask for the listener's intention or the facts


南無阿弥陀仏

ja-pos

南(な)無(む)阿(あ)弥(み)陀(だ)仏(ぶつ) • (Namu Amidabutsu)

南無阿弥陀仏 (canonical)
Namu Amidabutsu (romanization)

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 南無阿彌陀佛 (MC nom mju 'a mjie da bjut), itself borrowed from Sanskrit नमोऽमिताभाय (namoʼmitābhāya).

bor+

(Buddhism) Namo Amitābhāya, a Buddhist chant.


未雨綢繆

未雨綢繆 (canonical)
miuchūbyū (romanization)


つーか

っていうか っていうか#Japanese

ってゆうか ってゆうか#Japanese

Contraction of っていうか (tte iu ka); Contraction of ってゆうか (tte yuu ka).


ググれカス

[ɡɯ̟ɡɯ̟ɾe̞ ka̠sɨ]

Compound of ググれ (gugure, the imperative form of ググる (guguru, “to google”)) + かす (kasu, “dregs, scum, trash”), literally "Google it, you trash".

compound

2013, 中山, 出ない順 試験に出ない英単語 実践篇, →ISBN, archived from the original on 2016-06-07:

「ググッたら？」諸葛亮は劉備にそっけなく答えた。
☞「ググれカス」じゃなくてよかったですね。

“Guguttara?” Shokatsu Ryō wa Ryū Bi ni sokke naku kotaeta.
☞“Gugure kasu” ja nakute yokatta desu ne.

“Why not google it?” Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei dryly.
☞ Good thing it wasn't “Google it, you trash”.

(Internet slang) JFGI (just fucking Google it); GIYF (Google is your friend)


私と結婚してくれませんか

ja-pos

わたし と けっこん して くれません か

私(わたし)と結(けっ)婚(こん)してくれませんか • (watashi to kekkon shite kuremasen ka)

私と結婚してくれませんか (canonical)
watashi to kekkon shite kuremasen ka (romanization)


因小失大

因(いん)小(しょう)失(しつ)大(だい) • (inshōshitsudai)

因小失大 (canonical)
inshōshitsudai (romanization)

Orthographic borrowing from Chinese 因小失大 (yīnxiǎoshīdà).

spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar
spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar

to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar


漁夫之利

漁夫之利 (canonical)
gyofu no ri (romanization)

fishing in troubled waters
fish in troubled waters

winning by default, fishing in troubled waters


漁夫の利

漁夫の利 (canonical)
gyofu no ri (romanization)

[ɡʲo̞ɸɯ̟ no̞ ɾʲi]

Ultimately from a story in the Chinese text 戰國策／战国策 (Zhànguócè), specifically the section 趙且伐燕／赵且伐燕, wherein a snipe and a clam are arguing, and while they are busily focused on each other, a fisherman catches them both.
First attested in 1877.

fishing in troubled waters: a metaphor for the way that a third party can swoop in and gain while two opponents are busy fighting each other

Daijirin
Daijisen
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:松村明


木乃伊取りが木乃伊になる

ja-phrase

木乃伊取りが木乃伊になる

ミイラ-とり が ミイラ に なる

木乃伊取(ミイラと)りが木乃伊(ミイラ)になる • (mīra-tori ga mīra ni naru)

木乃伊取りが木乃伊になる (canonical)
mīra-tori ga mīra ni naru (romanization)

Attestable to at least 1881, when this expression was used in a kabuki play by Kawatake Mokuami.
Literally “the mummy-taker becomes the mummy.”

(by extension) the preacher becomes the converted


君子危うきに近寄らず

くんし あやうき に ちかよらず

君(くん)子(し)危(あや)うきに近(ちか)寄(よ)らず • (kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu)

君子危うきに近寄らず (canonical)
kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu (romanization)


なんだか

これが何だかわかりますか？

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 何, だ, か: what [something] is


チョベリバ

超 (chō, “super”) + English very bad (ベリー・バッド berī baddo).

der

ベリー・バッド berī baddo

(feminine, slang, dated) very bad; super bad; the worst


チョベリグ

[t͡ɕo̞be̞ɾʲiɡɯ̟]

超 (chō, “super”) + English very good (ベリー・グッド berī guddo).

ベリー・グッド berī guddo

(feminine, slang, dated) great; excellent; the best


熱火

熱(あつ)火(び)子(こ)に払(はら)う 熱火子に払う#Japanese

熱(あつ)火(び)子(こ)に払(はら)う (atsubi ko ni harau)


嘘も方便

嘘も方便 (canonical)
uso mo hōben (romanization)

[ɯ̟so̞ mo̞ ho̞ːbẽ̞ɴ]

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means

sometimes white lies may be justified; the end justifies the means


と言うことは

と言うことは (canonical)
to iu koto wa (romanization)

in other words; what I (you, etc.) mean is


いずれにしろ

[izɨɾe̞ ɲ̟i ɕiɾo̞]


ご飯にする？お風呂にする？それとも私？

ja-phrase

ごはん に する？おふろ に する？それ とも わたし？

ご飯(はん)にする？お風(ふ)呂(ろ)にする？それとも私(わたし)？ • (gohan ni suru? ofuro ni suru? sore tomo watashi?)

ご飯にする？お風呂にする？それとも私？ (canonical)

“Would you like dinner? Would you like a bath? Or would you like me?”—新婚三択(しんこんさんたく) (shinkonsantaku, “the three-choice question for a newly-wed”).

ja-r

A stock phrase in Japanese pop culture supposedly used by the wife in a newly-wed couple to invite her new husband to bed.

en-ご飯にする？お風呂にする？それとも私？-ja-phrase-j9bU7og4

ご飯にする？お風呂にする？それとも…わ・た・し？

gohan ni suru? ofuro ni suru? sore tomo … wa ta shi?


なにそれ？おいしいの？

ja-phrase

なに それ？ おいし.い の？

(informal, humorous) A phrase used to feign ignorance to the existence of a concept.


桜散る

桜散る (canonical)
sakura chiru (romanization)

[sa̠kɯ̟ɾa̠ t͡ɕiɾɯ̟]

From 桜 (さくら, sakura, “cherry tree, cherry blossom”) and 散る (ちる, chiru, “to fall, to scatter”).

(idiomatic, especially in telegrams) Used in reference to an exam failure.

Used in reference to cherry blossom blooming or falling.


桜咲く

桜咲く (canonical)
sakura saku (romanization)

From 桜 (さくら, sakura, “cherry tree, cherry blossom”) and 咲く (さく, saku, “to bloom”).

(idiomatic, especially in telegrams) Used in reference to an exam success.


さすけね

(Fukushima) Synonym of 大丈夫 (“okay, all right”)


何か用

何か用 (canonical)
nanika yō (romanization)

did you want something? can I help you? what do you want? did you need me?


白河夜船

ja-pos

白(しら)河(かわ)夜(よ)船(ふね) • (shirakawa yofune) ^(←しらかはよふね (sirakafayofune)?)

白河夜船 (canonical)
shirakawa yofune (romanization)
sirakafayofune (romanization)
しらかはよふね (hiragana historical)

[ɕiɾa̠ka̠β̞a̠ jo̞ɸɯ̟ne̞]

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:松村明

From a folk story in which someone who pretended to have visited Kyōto was asked about Shirakawa (白河/白川), misinterpreted it as the name of a river, and answered that he or she didn't know because he or she crossed it on a night boat.

being fast asleep, dead to the world when sleeping

pretending to know everything, a know-it-all manner


白河夜船

白(しら)河(かわ)夜(よ)船(ぶね) • (shirakawa yobune) ^(←しらかはよぶね (sirakafayobune)?)

白河夜船 (canonical)
shirakawa yobune (romanization)
sirakafayobune (romanization)
しらかはよぶね (hiragana historical)

/ɕirakawa yofune/ → /ɕirakawa yobune/
Shift in reading for the 夜船 portion. The fune changes to bune as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Alternative form of 白河夜船 (shirakawa yofune)


滄海桑田

滄(そう)海(かい)桑(そう)田(でん) • (sōkaisōden) ^(←さうかいさうでん (saukaisauden)?)

滄海桑田 (canonical)
sōkaisōden (romanization)
saukaisauden (romanization)
さうかいさうでん (hiragana historical)

From 滄海 (“vast ocean”) + 桑田 (“mulberry plantations”).
Borrowed from Chinese 滄海桑田／沧海桑田 (cānghǎisāngtián), literally “the blue sea turned into mulberry fields”.

com

(figuratively) drastic changes in the world


年に一度

年に一度 (canonical)
nen ni ichido (romanization)

100年に一度の大雨

the heavy rain that happens once every 100 years


待ちに待った

待ちに待った (canonical)
machi ni matta (romanization)

みんなが待ちに待った花火大会

花火大会 はなびたいかい

the fireworks festival everyone has been waiting for


止むを得ない

ja-adj

止(や)むを得(え)ない • (yamu o enai) -i (adverbial 止(や)むを得(え)なく (yamu o enaku))

止むを得ない (canonical)
yamu o enai (romanization)
止むを得なく (adverbial)
止むを得なかろ (imperfective stem)
やむをえなかろ (imperfective stem)
yamu o enakaro (imperfective)
止むを得なく (continuative stem)
やむをえなく (continuative stem)
yamu o enaku (continuative)
止むを得ない (stem terminative)
やむをえない (stem terminative)
yamu o enai (terminative)
止むを得ない (attributive stem)
やむをえない (attributive stem)
yamu o enai (attributive)
止むを得なけれ (hypothetical stem)
やむをえなけれ (hypothetical stem)
yamu o enakere (hypothetical)
止むを得なかれ (imperative stem)
やむをえなかれ (imperative stem)
yamu o enakare (imperative)
止むを得なくない (informal negative)
やむをえなくない (informal negative)
yamu o enaku nai (informal negative)
止むを得なかった (informal past)
やむをえなかった (informal past)
yamu o enakatta (informal past)
止むを得なくなかった (informal negative past)
やむをえなくなかった (informal negative past)
yamu o enaku nakatta (informal negative past)
止むを得ないです (formal)
やむをえないです (formal)
yamu o enai desu (formal)
止むを得なくないです (formal negative)
やむをえなくないです (formal negative)
yamu o enaku nai desu (formal negative)
止むを得なかったです (formal past)
やむをえなかったです (formal past)
yamu o enakatta desu (formal past)
止むを得なくなかったです (formal negative past)
やむをえなくなかったです (formal negative past)
yamu o enaku nakatta desu (formal negative past)
止むを得なくて (conjunctive)
やむをえなくて (conjunctive)
yamu o enakute (conjunctive)
止むを得なければ (conditional)
やむをえなければ (conditional)
yamu o enakereba (conditional)
止むを得なかったら (conditional past)
やむをえなかったら (conditional past)
yamu o enakattara (conditional past)
止むを得なかろう (volitional)
やむをえなかろう (volitional)
yamu o enakarō (volitional)
止むを得なく (adverbial)
やむをえなく (adverbial)
yamu o enaku (adverbial)
止むを得なさ (noun-from-adj)
やむをえなさ (noun-from-adj)
yamu o enasa (noun-from-adj)

(idiomatic) have no choice but to; it can't be helped; it's inevitable


そうねぇ

ja-phrase

そうねぇ • (sō nē)


立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花

ja-pos

立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花

たてば しゃくやく すわれば ぼたん あるく すがた は ゆり の はな

立(た)てば芍(しゃく)薬(やく)座(すわ)れば牡(ぼ)丹(たん)歩(ある)く姿(すがた)は百合(ゆり)の花(はな) • (tateba shakuyaku suwareba botan aruku sugata wa yuri no hana)

立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花 (canonical)

Literally, “standing like Chinese peony, sitting like a Chinese tree peony, and walking like a lily”.

lit

en-立てば芍薬座れば牡丹歩く姿は百合の花-ja-phrase-OJrqDzvD


可愛い子には旅をさせよ

ja-pos

かわい.い こ に は たび を させよ

可(か)愛(わい)い子(こ)には旅(たび)をさせよ • (kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo)

可愛い子には旅をさせよ (canonical)
kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo (romanization)

Literally, "send your beloved child on a journey" (i.e. let them experience hardship).

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare the rod and spoil the child


タイムアップ

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from time + up, misconstruction of English time's up, equivalent to タイム (taimu) + アップ (appu).

pseudo-loan

2012 March 7, Tadatoshi Fujimaki, “第(だい)139(ひゃくさんじゅうきゅう)Ｑ(クォーター) 試合終了(タイムアップ)‼ [139th Quarter: Time’s up!!]”, in [黒](くろ)[子](こ)のバスケ [Kuroko’s Basketball], volume 16 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 75:

試合終了—‼


いいぞもっとやれ

ja-phrase

い.い ぞ もっと やれ

Literally, "this is very good, do more."


同行二人

ja-pos

同(どう)行(ぎょう)二(に)人(にん) • (dōgyō ninin) ^(←どうぎやうににん (dougyauninin)?)

同行二人 (canonical)
dōgyō ninin (romanization)
dougyauninin (romanization)
どうぎやうににん (hiragana historical)

[do̞ːɡʲo̞ː ɲ̟iɲ̟ĩɴ]

Literally “two persons on the same journey”. That is, the pilgrim walks alongside 弘法大師 (Kōbō Daishi).

(Buddhism) a phrase written on walking sticks, hats, and other implements of pilgrims walking along the 四国巡礼 (Shikoku Junrei, “Shikoku pilgrimage”)


せやな

そうですね そうですね#Japanese


念彼観音力

ねんぴ ^かんのん りき

念(ねん)彼(ぴ)観(かん)音(のん)力(りき) • (nenpi Kannon riki) ^(←ねんぴくわんおんりき (nenpikwan'onriki)?)

念彼観音力 (canonical)
nenpi Kannon riki (romanization)
nenpikwan'onriki (romanization)
ねんぴくわんおんりき (hiragana historical)

From the gatha of the twenty-fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra; this same phrase is mentioned 13 times.


有備無患

有備無患 (canonical)
yūbimukan (romanization)

to be prepared against adverse events; just in case


臨渇掘井

臨渇掘井 (canonical)
rinkatsukussei (romanization)


南無妙法蓮華経

^なむ ^みょうほう ^れんげ ^きょう

^なむ ^めうほふ ^れんげ ^きやう

南(な)無(む)妙(みょう)法(ほう)蓮(れん)華(げ)経(きょう) • (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) ^(←なむめうほふれんげきやう (Namu Meufofu Renge Kyau)?)

南無妙法蓮華経 (canonical)
Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (romanization)
Namu Meufofu Renge Kyau (romanization)
なむめうほふれんげきやう (hiragana historical)

From 南無 (namu, Buddhist salutation or expression of faith) + 妙法蓮華経 (Myōhō Renge Kyō, “Lotus Sutra”).

com

(Buddhism) a mantra commonly chanted in the Nichiren school of Buddhism, praising the Lotus Sutra


唵蘇羅薩縛帝曳娑婆訶

ja-pos

^おん ^そらそばてい えい そわか

唵(おん)蘇(そ)羅(ら)薩(そ)縛(ば)帝(てい)曳(えい)娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) • (On Sorasobatei ei sowaka)

唵蘇羅薩縛帝曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
On Sorasobatei ei sowaka (romanization)

唵‧蘇羅薩縛帝‧曳‧娑婆訶

唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 蘇(そ)羅(ら)薩(そ)縛(ば)帝(てい) (Sorasobatei, “Saraswati”) + 曳(えい) (ei, transcription of Sanskrit "aym") + 娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) (sowaka, “svāhā”) , compare om aim Saraswatyai namah.


唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶

ja-pos

おん かかか びさんまえい そわか

オン カカカ ビサンマエイ ソワカ

唵(おん)訶(か)訶(か)訶(か)尾(び)娑(さん)摩(ま)曳(えい)娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) or 唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶(オンカカカビサンマエイソワカ) • (on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka)

唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka (romanization)

[o̞ŋ ka̠ka̠ka̠ bʲisã̠mːa̠e̞ː so̞β̞a̠ka̠]

唵‧訶‧訶‧訶‧尾娑摩曳‧娑婆訶

From Sanskrit ॐ हहह विस्मये स्वाहा (oṃ hahaha vismaye svāhā): 唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 訶(か)訶(か)訶(か) (kakaka, onomatopoeia for laughter) + 尾(び)娑(さん)摩(ま)曳(えい) (bisanmaei, transcription of "vismaye") + 娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) (sowaka, “svāhā”).

der

おんかかかびさんまえいそわか

ja-compound

(Buddhism) An esoteric Buddhist mantra (Om! Ha ha ha! O wondrous one, svāhā!).


オンアラハシャノウ

ja-pos

オンアラハシャノウ or おんあらはしゃのう • (on'arahashanō) ^(←オンアラハシヤナウ (on'arafasyanau)?)

オンアラハシャノウ (canonical)
おんあらはしゃのう (canonical)
on'arahashanō (romanization)
on'arafasyanau (romanization)
オンアラハシヤナウ (historical katakana)

[o̞ɰ̃ a̠ɾa̠ha̠ɕa̠no̞ː]

オン‧ア‧ラ‧ハ‧シャ‧ノウ

/on a ra pa sa nau/ → /on a ra ɸa sya nau/ → /on a ra ha ɕa noː/
From Sanskrit ॐ अरपचन धीः (oṃ arapacana dhīḥ): 唵(オン) (on, “oṃ”) + アラハシャノウ (arahashanō, “arapacana”, a Buddhist mnemonic of the Sanskrit alphabet).

ja-compound

(Buddhism, chiefly Shingon) An esoteric Buddhist mantra, directed to Monju Bosatsu (Mañjuśrī bodhisattva)


オンマイタレイヤソワカ

ja-pos

おん まいたれいや そわか

オンマイタレイヤソワカ or おんまいたれいやそわか • (onmaitareiyasowaka) ^(←オンマイタレイヤソハカ (onmaitareiyasofaka)?)

オンマイタレイヤソワカ (canonical)
おんまいたれいやそわか (canonical)
onmaitareiyasowaka (romanization)
onmaitareiyasofaka (romanization)
オンマイタレイヤソハカ (historical katakana)

オン‧マイタレイヤ‧ソワカ

From Sanskrit ॐ मैत्रेय स्वाहा (oṃ maitreya svāhā): 唵(オン) (on, “oṃ”) + マイタレイヤ (maitareiya, “Maitreya”, literally “compassionate one”) + ソワカ (sowaka, “svāhā”).

bor

ॐ मैत्रेय स्वाहा

ja-compound

(Buddhism, chiefly Shingon) An esoteric Buddhist mantra, directed to Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya bodhisattva)


キモス

キモス (canonical)
きもす (canonical)
kimosu (romanization)

(Internet slang) Contraction of キモいです (kimoi desu).


当社比

compared to our company's previous products


馬耳東風

馬耳東風 (canonical)
bajitōfū (romanization)

[ba̠ʑito̞ːɸɯ̟ː]

not the least bit concerned; completely indifferent


文字通り

文字通り (canonical)
mojidōri (romanization)

literally (not figuratively or hyperbolic)


お茶を挽く

お茶を挽く (canonical)
o-cha o hiku (romanization)


石に灸

石に灸 (canonical)
ishi ni kyū (romanization)

Literally "[performing] moxibustion on a stone".


暖簾に腕押し

ja-pos

暖(の)簾(れん)に腕(うで)押(お)し • (noren ni udeoshi)

暖簾に腕押し (canonical)
noren ni udeoshi (romanization)

暖簾 (“curtain”) + に + 腕 (“arm”) + 押し (“pushing”), literally “pushing a curtain with one's arm”


一昨日来い

一昨日来い (canonical)
ototoi koi (romanization)

Literally “come [[[here]]] the day before yesterday”.


鴨が葱を背負って来る

ja-pos

カモ が ネギ を しょって くる

鴨(カモ)が葱(ネギ)を背負(しょ)って来(く)る • (kamo ga negi o shotte kuru)

鴨が葱を背負って来る (canonical)
kamo ga negi o shotte kuru (romanization)

Literally "the duck carries its own leek"; i.e. the duck carries the ingredients for a duck-meat dish.

a fool and his money are soon parted
a fool and his money are soon parted


明るけりゃ月夜だと思う

あかるけりゃ つきよ だ と おも.う

明(あか)るけりゃ月(つき)夜(よ)だと思(おも)う • (akarukerya tsukiyo da to omou)

明るけりゃ月夜だと思う (canonical)
akarukerya tsukiyo da to omou (romanization)


犬に論語

犬に論語 (canonical)
inu ni Rongo (romanization)

Literally, “[[[reading]]] the Analects to a dog”.

lit

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine


虫の居所が悪い

ja-phrase

むし の いどころ が わるい

虫(むし)の居(い)所(どころ)が悪(わる)い • (mushi no idokoro ga warui)

虫の居所が悪い (canonical)
mushi no idokoro ga warui (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɕi no̞ ido̞ko̞ɾo̞ ɡa̠ β̞a̠ɾɯ̟i]


来た、見た、勝った

ja-pos

来(き)た、見(み)た、勝(か)った • (kita, mita, katta)

来た、見た、勝った (canonical)
kita, mita, katta (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 来た (kita, “came”, past tense of 来る (kuru)) + 見た (mita, “saw”, past tense of 見る (miru)) + 勝った (katta, “won”, past tense of 勝つ (katsu)), calque of Latin vēnī, vīdī, vīcī (“I came, I saw, I conquered”).

cal

I came, I saw, I conquered
I came, I saw, I conquered

ja:来た、見た、勝った


馬の耳に念仏

ja-pos

うま の みみ に ねんぶつ

馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念(ねん)仏(ぶつ) • (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu)

馬の耳に念仏 (canonical)
uma no mimi ni nenbutsu (romanization)

Literally, “chanting prayers to the Buddha to a horse’s ear”.


南無

Transliteration of Sanskrit नमो (namo), from Sanskrit नमस् (námas, literally “a bow”), possibly via Middle Chinese 南無 (MC nom mju).
Compare Mandarin 南無／南无 (námó).

der

(Buddhism) Used in Buddhist salutations or expressions of faith: to salute; to homage or to take refuge (a Buddha or a Bodhisattva).


南無

Likely a borrowing from Mandarin 南無／南无 (námó).


袖振り合うも多生の縁

ja-phrase

そで ふりあう も たしょう の えん

袖(そで)振(ふ)り合(あ)うも多(た)生(しょう)の縁(えん) • (sode furiau mo tashō no en)

袖振り合うも多生の縁 (canonical)
sode furiau mo tashō no en (romanization)

Literally, “even the [chance] contact of [two peoples'] sleeves is [the result of] fate from a previous life”.

m-g

even the 􂀿chance􂁀 contact of 􂀿two peoples'􂁀 sleeves is 􂀿the result of􂁀 fate from a previous life


蛙の面に小便

ja-pos

かえる の つら に しょうべん

かえる の つら に しょんべん

蛙(かえる)の面(つら)に小(しょう)便(べん) or 蛙(かえる)の面(つら)に小(しょん)便(べん) • (kaeru no tsura ni shōben or kaeru no tsura ni shonben)

蛙の面に小便 (canonical)
蛙の面に小便 (canonical)
kaeru no tsura ni shōben (romanization)
kaeru no tsura ni shonben (romanization)

Literally, "[like] urine on a frog's face."

like water off a duck's back
like water off a duck's back

(colloquial) like water off a duck's back


我思う、故に我在り

ja-phrase

われ おも.う、ゆえ に われ あり

我(われ)思(おも)う、故(ゆえ)に我(われ)在(あ)り • (ware omou, yue ni ware ari)

我思う、故に我在り (canonical)
ware omou, yue ni ware ari (romanization)

Calque of Latin cogito, ergo sum, equivalent to a kanbun kundoku reading of Literary Chinese 我思故我在 (wǒ sī gù wǒ zài).
First cited to the 1884 revised edition of the 哲学字彙 (Tetsugaku Jii, “Philosophy Dictionary”), edited by Inoue Tetsujirō.

calque

われおもう、ゆえにわれあり

cog

I think therefore I am
I think therefore I am

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Inoue Tetsujirō
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:哲学字彙


あのね

あのね、実は私、君の事が…

Ano ne, jitsu wa watashi, kimi no koto ga…


kwsk

kwsk (canonical)
kuwashiku (romanization)

Abbreviation of くわしく (kuwashiku), adverbial form of 詳(くわ)しい (kuwashii, “detailed”).

2013, Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram:

ちょっと、お店に行った感想なんかを、僕に聞かせてくれないかな？できるだけkwsk

Chotto, o-mise ni itta kansō nanka o , boku ni kikasete kurenai kana? Dekiru dake kuwashiku

I was wondering if you could tell me what you thought of the store. Please be as detailed as possible!

(Internet slang) Tell me more; I want to know more about that.


一日も早い

ja-phrase

一(いち)日(にち)も早(はや)い • (ichinichi mo hayai)

一日も早い (canonical)
ichinichi mo hayai (romanization)
一日も早かろ (imperfective stem)
いちにちもはやかろ (imperfective stem)
ichinichi mo hayakaro (imperfective)
一日も早く (continuative stem)
いちにちもはやく (continuative stem)
ichinichi mo hayaku (continuative)
一日も早い (stem terminative)
いちにちもはやい (stem terminative)
ichinichi mo hayai (terminative)
一日も早い (attributive stem)
いちにちもはやい (attributive stem)
ichinichi mo hayai (attributive)
一日も早けれ (hypothetical stem)
いちにちもはやけれ (hypothetical stem)
ichinichi mo hayakere (hypothetical)
一日も早かれ (imperative stem)
いちにちもはやかれ (imperative stem)
ichinichi mo hayakare (imperative)
一日も早くない (informal negative)
いちにちもはやくない (informal negative)
ichinichi mo hayaku nai (informal negative)
一日も早かった (informal past)
いちにちもはやかった (informal past)
ichinichi mo hayakatta (informal past)
一日も早くなかった (informal negative past)
いちにちもはやくなかった (informal negative past)
ichinichi mo hayaku nakatta (informal negative past)
一日も早いです (formal)
いちにちもはやいです (formal)
ichinichi mo hayai desu (formal)
一日も早くないです (formal negative)
いちにちもはやくないです (formal negative)
ichinichi mo hayaku nai desu (formal negative)
一日も早かったです (formal past)
いちにちもはやかったです (formal past)
ichinichi mo hayakatta desu (formal past)
一日も早くなかったです (formal negative past)
いちにちもはやくなかったです (formal negative past)
ichinichi mo hayaku nakatta desu (formal negative past)
一日も早くて (conjunctive)
いちにちもはやくて (conjunctive)
ichinichi mo hayakute (conjunctive)
一日も早ければ (conditional)
いちにちもはやければ (conditional)
ichinichi mo hayakereba (conditional)
一日も早かったら (conditional past)
いちにちもはやかったら (conditional past)
ichinichi mo hayakattara (conditional past)
一日も早かろう (volitional)
いちにちもはやかろう (volitional)
ichinichi mo hayakarō (volitional)
一日も早く (adverbial)
いちにちもはやく (adverbial)
ichinichi mo hayaku (adverbial)
一日も早さ (noun-from-adj)
いちにちもはやさ (noun-from-adj)
ichinichi mo hayasa (noun-from-adj)


ご愁傷様です

ご-しゅうしょう-さまです

ご愁(しゅう)傷(しょう)様(さま)です • (go-shūshō-samadesu) ^(←ごしうしやうさまです (gosiusyausamadesu)?)

ご愁傷様です (canonical)
go-shūshō-samadesu (romanization)
gosiusyausamadesu (romanization)
ごしうしやうさまです (hiragana historical)

[ɡo̞ɕɨːɕo̞ːsa̠ma̠de̞sɨ]


やんか

豹の模様は、丸っこい輪っかが体に散らばってますやんか。その丸っこい輪っかの中に、さらに点々があるのがジャガーの模様です。

Hyō no moyō wa, marukkoi wakka ga karada ni chirabattemasu yan ka. Sono marukkoi wakka no naka ni, sara ni tenten ga aru no ga jagā no moyō desu.

Leopards have this pattern where roundish rings are scattered all over their body, yeah? When there are little dots inside those rings, that is the pattern of jaguars.


っつって

多いっつっても

っていって っていって#Japanese


一か八か

一か八か (canonical)
ichikabachika (romanization)

Unknown. Perhaps from gambling parlance, from 一か罰か (ichi ka bachi ka, “one or nothing”, literally “one or punishment”); or from the top strokes of the kanji in the phrase 丁か半か (chō ka han ka, literally “even or odd”), from the game of chōhan. The spelling is jukujikun (熟字訓).

一か八かやってみよう。

一か八か。よし！

(idiomatic) sinking or swimming; all or nothing


遅かれ早かれ

遅かれ早かれ (canonical)
osokare hayakare (romanization)


早かれ遅かれ

早かれ遅かれ (canonical)
hayakare osokare (romanization)


同じ穴の狢

ja-pos

おなじ あな の むじな

おなじ あな の ムジナ

同(おな)じ穴(あな)の狢(むじな) or 同(おな)じ穴(あな)の狢(ムジナ) • (onaji ana no mujina)

同じ穴の狢 (canonical)
同じ穴の狢 (canonical)
onaji ana no mujina (romanization)

From Chinese 一丘之貉 (yīqiūzhīhé). Literally, “badgers of the same hole”.

seemingly not part of the same group, but actually indeed comrades


三度目の正直

ja-phrase

さんどめ の しょうじき

三(さん)度(ど)目(め)の正(しょう)直(じき) • (sandome no shōjiki)

三度目の正直 (canonical)
sandome no shōjiki (romanization)

third time's a charm
third time's a charm


キボンヌ

キボンヌ (canonical)
きぼんぬ (canonical)
kibonnu (romanization)

Derived from 希望する (kibō suru, “to wish for”).

ソースキボンヌ


んとす

n to su (romanization)
んとせ (irrealis stem)
n to se (irrealis)
んとし (continuative stem)
n to si (continuative)
んとす (stem terminative)
n to su (terminative)
んとする (attributive stem)
n to suru (attributive)
んとすれ (realis stem)
n to sure (realis)
んとせよ (imperative stem)
n to seyo (imperative)
んとせず (negative)
n to sezu (negative)
んとすれど (contrastive)
n to suredo (contrastive)
んとすれば (causative)
n to sureba (causative)
んとせば (conditional)
n to seba (conditional)
んとしき (past)
n to siki (past)
んとしけり (past)
n to sikeri (past)
んとしつ (perfect)
n to situ (perfect)
んとしぬ (perfect)
n to sinu (perfect)
んとせり (continuative perfect)
んとしたり (continuative perfect)
n to seri (continuative perfect)
n to sitari (continuative perfect)
んとせむ (volitional)
n to semu (volitional)

(archaic) Alternative form of んとする (n to suru)


んとする

n to suru (romanization)
んとし
n to shi
んとする
n to suru
んとすれ
n to sure
んとせよ (imperative literary)
んとしろ (colloquial imperative)
n to seyo (imperative literary)
n to shiro (colloquial imperative)
んとされる (passive)
n to sareru (passive)
んとさせる (causative)
んとさす (causative)
n to saseru (causative)
n to sasu (causative)
んとできる (potential)
n to dekiru (potential)
んとしよう (volitional)
n to shiyō (volitional)
んとしない (negative)
n to shinai (negative)
んとせず (continuative negative)
n to sezu (continuative negative)
んとします (formal)
n to shimasu (formal)
んとした (perfective)
n to shita (perfective)
んとして (conjunctive)
n to shite (conjunctive)
んとすれば (conditional hypothetical)
n to sureba (conditional hypothetical)

む (n, auxiliary verb showing volition) + と (to suru, case particle) + す (su, “to do”). Modern Japanese equivalent is （よ）うとする (-(yo)o to suru, see よう, sense 4).


屁をこく

屁をこく (canonical)
he o koku (romanization)
屁をこか
へをこか
he o koka
屁をこき
へをこき
he o koki
屁をこく
へをこく
he o koku
屁をこけ
へをこけ
he o koke
屁をこかれる (passive)
へをこかれる (passive)
he o kokareru (passive)
屁をこかせる (causative)
屁をこかす (causative)
へをこかせる (causative)
へをこかす (causative)
he o kokaseru (causative)
he o kokasu (causative)
屁をこける (potential)
へをこける (potential)
he o kokeru (potential)
屁をここう (volitional)
へをここう (volitional)
he o kokō (volitional)
屁をこかない (negative)
へをこかない (negative)
he o kokanai (negative)
屁をこかず (continuative negative)
へをこかず (continuative negative)
he o kokazu (continuative negative)
屁をこきます (formal)
へをこきます (formal)
he o kokimasu (formal)
屁をこいた (perfective)
へをこいた (perfective)
he o koita (perfective)
屁をこいて (conjunctive)
へをこいて (conjunctive)
he o koite (conjunctive)
屁をこけば (conditional hypothetical)
へをこけば (conditional hypothetical)
he o kokeba (conditional hypothetical)

Phrase composed of 屁 (he, “fart”) + を (o, object particle) + こく (koku, “to forcefully expel out of the body”). Literally, “to squeeze off a fart”.

おなら

slightly more polite, compare “to [[break wind]]”


屁をひる

屁をひる (canonical)
he o hiru (romanization)
屁をひら
へをひら
he o hira
屁をひり
へをひり
he o hiri
屁をひる
へをひる
he o hiru
屁をひれ
へをひれ
he o hire
屁をひられる (passive)
へをひられる (passive)
he o hirareru (passive)
屁をひらせる (causative)
屁をひらす (causative)
へをひらせる (causative)
へをひらす (causative)
he o hiraseru (causative)
he o hirasu (causative)
屁をひれる (potential)
へをひれる (potential)
he o hireru (potential)
屁をひろう (volitional)
へをひろう (volitional)
he o hirō (volitional)
屁をひらない (negative)
へをひらない (negative)
he o hiranai (negative)
屁をひらず (continuative negative)
へをひらず (continuative negative)
he o hirazu (continuative negative)
屁をひります (formal)
へをひります (formal)
he o hirimasu (formal)
屁をひった (perfective)
へをひった (perfective)
he o hitta (perfective)
屁をひって (conjunctive)
へをひって (conjunctive)
he o hitte (conjunctive)
屁をひれば (conditional hypothetical)
へをひれば (conditional hypothetical)
he o hireba (conditional hypothetical)

[he̞ o̞ çiɾɯ̟]

Phrase composed of 屁 (he, “fart”) + を (o, object particle) + 放る (hiru, “to excrete, to discharge, to expel out of the body”). Literally, “to let off a fart”.

(dated, mildly vulgar) to fart, to break wind

to let off a fart and then pucker one's butt

屁を放って尻を窄める: → metaphor for making a mistake and then trying to take it back

屁っ放り腰

a posture with one's rear extended as if farting


茜さす

茜さす (canonical)
akane sasu (romanization)

From Old Japanese.
Derived from 茜 (akane, “madder (dye) → red”) + 差す (sasu, “to illuminate, shine”).
First cited in the Man'yōshū of roughly 759 CE.


瓜に爪あり爪に爪なし

ja-phrase

うり に つめ あり つめ に つめ なし

瓜(うり)に爪(つめ)あり爪(つめ)に爪(つめ)なし • (uri ni tsume ari tsume ni tsume nashi)

瓜に爪あり爪に爪なし (canonical)
uri ni tsume ari tsume ni tsume nashi (romanization)

[ɯ̟ɾʲi ɲ̟i t͡sɨme̞ a̠ɾʲi t͡sɨme̞ ɲ̟i t͡sɨme̞ na̠ɕi]

There is a claw in 瓜 (“melon”) but no claw in 爪 (“claw”): A phrase explaining the difference between the characters 瓜 (“melon”) and 爪 (“claw”).


出たとこ勝負

出たとこ勝負 (canonical)
deta toko shōbu (romanization)

doing something without bothering to prepare or plan


空即是色

ja-pos

空(くう)即(そく)是(ぜ)色(しき) • (kū soku ze shiki)

空即是色 (canonical)
kū soku ze shiki (romanization)

Attested in the Heart Sutra.
From Middle Chinese 空即是色 (MC khuwng tsik dzyeX srik), itself being Kumārajīva's translation from Sanskrit या शून्यता तद् रूपम् (yā śūnyatā tad rūpam, literally “emptiness is only form”).

der

या शून्यता तद् रूपम्

(Buddhism) fundamental doctrine that all things in this world are empty in essence, and through that existence, all phenomenon is real in form


色即是空

ja-pos

色(しき)即(そく)是(ぜ)空(くう) • (shiki soku ze kū)

色即是空 (canonical)
shiki soku ze kū (romanization)

From the 般若心経 (Hannya Shingyō, “Heart Sutra”).
From Middle Chinese 色即是空 (MC srik tsik dzyeX khuwng), itself being Kumārajīva's translation from Sanskrit यद् रूपं सा शून्यता (yad rūpaṃ sā śūnyatā, literally “form is indeed emptiness”).

der

यद् रूपं सा शून्यता

(Buddhism) the fundamental doctrine that all things in this world that have a connection or reason has no intrinsic essence


青菜に塩

青菜に塩 (canonical)
aona ni shio (romanization)

青菜 (“green vegetables”) + に (“to”) + 塩 (“salt”). Literally "put salt on vegetables (and thus it shrivels)"

com

青菜に塩をかけたようだ。


後の祭り

後の祭り (canonical)
ato no matsuri (romanization)


板につく

板につく (canonical)
ita ni tsuku (romanization)


旨い汁を吸う

ja-pos

うまい しる を す.う

旨い汁を吸う (canonical)
umai shiru o suu (romanization)

うまい汁を吸う うまい汁を吸う#Japanese

Alternative spelling of うまい汁を吸う (umai shiru o suu): to reap without sowing


穴があったら入りたい

あな が あったら はいりたい

穴(あな)があったら入(はい)りたい • (ana ga attara hairitai)

穴があったら入りたい (canonical)
ana ga attara hairitai (romanization)

Literally, “wanting to enter a hole if a hole is present”.


蝦で鯛を釣る

ja-pos

えび で たい を つる

蝦(えび)で鯛(たい)を釣(つ)る • (ebi de tai o tsuru)

蝦で鯛を釣る (canonical)
ebi de tai o tsuru (romanization)


揚げ足を取る

揚げ足を取る (canonical)
ageashi o toru (romanization)

[a̠ɡe̞a̠ɕi o̞ to̞ɾɯ̟]


石橋を叩いて渡る

いしばし を たたいて わたる

石(いし)橋(ばし)を叩(たた)いて渡(わた)る • (ishibashi o tataite wataru)

石橋を叩いて渡る (canonical)
ishibashi o tataite wataru (romanization)


犬の遠吠え

犬の遠吠え (canonical)
inu no tōboe (romanization)


甘い汁を吸う

あまい しる を す.う

甘い汁を吸う (canonical)
amai shiru o suu (romanization)

to line one's pockets; to reap without sowing


うまい汁を吸う

うまい しる を す.う

うまい汁を吸う (canonical)
umai shiru o suu (romanization)


月月火水木金金

げつ-げつ-か-すい-もく-きん-きん

月月火水木金金 (canonical)
getsu-getsu-ka-sui-moku-kin-kin (romanization)

Derived from the seven days of the week, but with the weekdays, 日 (nichi, “Sun.”) and 土 (do, “Sat.”) replaced with 月 (getsu, “Mon.”) and 金 (kin, “Fri.”).
Originates from the Imperial Japanese Navy.

"Mon-Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Fri" (i.e. working all seven days of the week, including weekends.)


足引きの

足(あし)引(ひ)きの or 足(あし)引(び)きの • (ashihiki no or ashibiki no)

足引きの (canonical)
足引きの (canonical)
ashihiki no (romanization)
ashibiki no (romanization)

⟨asipi₁ki₂ no₂⟩⟨asipi₁ki₁ no₂⟩ → */asipʲikɨ nə/*/asipʲikʲi nə/ → /aɕiɸiki no/ → /aɕihiki no//aɕibiki no/
From Old Japanese.
Original derivation unknown, various theories exist. The kanji spelling literally means “foot-dragging”, possibly implying a sense of “climbing while ‘pulling’ one's legs” → “foot-aching, foot-wearying” → “rugged”. However, analysis of Old Japanese vowels imply that about 80% of the Old Japanese poems use pi₁ki₂ more than pi₁ki₁, and 引き (pi₁ki₁ → hiki, “pulling”) is not the original derivation but rather a later development in the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE).
Sometimes the hiki is voiced due to rendaku (連濁) as ashibiki no, attested since the late medieval era.

(poetic) a pillow word of uncertain meaning: allusion to 山 (yama, “mountain”) or words beginning with yama


てふ

chō (romanization)
tefu (romanization)
てふ (hiragana historical)
てふ (stem terminative)
tefu (stem terminative)
てふ (attributive stem)
tefu (attributive stem)
てへ (realis stem)
tefe (realis stem)
てへ (imperative stem)
tefe (imperative stem)
てへり (continuative perfect)
teferi (continuative perfect)

/to iɸu/ → /teɸu/ → */tewu/ → /teu/ → /t͡ɕeu/ → /t͡ɕoː/
Shift from classical phrase と言ふ (to iu), in modern orthography と言う (to iu).
Compare the development of Middle Chinese-derived pronunciations such as 蝶 (chō, “butterfly”).

similar development of the same phrase in Old Japanese

春過ぎて夏来にけらし白妙の衣ほすてふ天の香具山

haru sugite natsu kinikerashi shirotae no koromo hosu chō Ama no Kaguyama

As spring passes and summer just around the corner, they say [there are] magnificently white robes for drying at heavenly mount Kagu.

(poetic archaic, obsolete) Short for と言う (to iu):

used in spoken attributions: they say...

indicates apposition: who is..., also known as...


白妙の

白(しろ)妙(たえ)の • (shirotae no) ^(←しろたへの (sirotafe no)?)

白妙の (canonical)
shirotae no (romanization)
sirotafe no (romanization)
しろたへの (hiragana historical)

From 白妙 (shirotae, “white-colored”), extension of 白栲 (shirotae, “white paper mulberry cloth”), coupled with genitive case marker の (no).

allusion to articles of clothing as white as paper mulberry such as 衣 (koromo, “clothes, garments”), 袖 (sode, “sleeve”), etc.

allusion to objects typically white in color such as 浪 (nami, “waves”), 浜 (hama, “shore”), 雪 (yuki, “snow”), etc.

allusion to placenames such as 香椎 (Kashii) or 浜名 (Hamana)


鈴を転がすよう

ja-phrase

すず を ころがす よう

鈴を転がすよう (canonical)
suzu o korogasu yō (romanization)

鈴を転がすような声

Used to describe a woman's voice as being clear and beautiful.


くじをきる

九字を切る 九字を切る#Japanese

九字を切る: perform the 九字 (kuji, “nine seals”) mudra


春眠暁を覚えず

しゅんみん あかつき を おぼえず

春(しゅん)眠(みん)暁(あかつき)を覚(おぼ)えず • (shunmin akatsuki o oboezu)

春眠暁を覚えず (canonical)
shunmin akatsuki o oboezu (romanization)

From the first line of the poem 春暁 (Shungyō, “Spring Dawn”) by Meng Haoran, a calque of Literary Chinese 春眠不覺曉.
Literally “sleeping in the springtime, unaware of the dawn”.

sleeping in late on a comfortable spring day


とぶとりの

飛ぶ鳥の: a flying bird, alludes to 明日香 (Asuka, a place name); a bird flying swiftly, alludes to 早く (hayaku, “early”)


濡れ鼠

濡れ鼠 (canonical)
nurenezumi (romanization)


心行くまで

to one's heart's content
to one's heart's content


おまいう

(Internet slang) Short for お前が言うな (omae ga iuna, “you're one to talk”).


度肝を抜く

ja-verb

度(ど)肝(ぎも)を抜(ぬ)く • (dogimo o nuku) godan (stem 度(ど)肝(ぎも)を抜(ぬ)き (dogimo o nuki), past 度(ど)肝(ぎも)を抜(ぬ)いた (dogimo o nuita))

度肝を抜く (canonical)
dogimo o nuku (romanization)
度肝を抜き (stem)
度肝を抜いた (past)
度肝を抜か
どぎもをぬか
dogimo o nuka
度肝を抜き
どぎもをぬき
dogimo o nuki
度肝を抜く
どぎもをぬく
dogimo o nuku
度肝を抜け
どぎもをぬけ
dogimo o nuke
度肝を抜かれる (passive)
どぎもをぬかれる (passive)
dogimo o nukareru (passive)
度肝を抜かせる (causative)
度肝を抜かす (causative)
どぎもをぬかせる (causative)
どぎもをぬかす (causative)
dogimo o nukaseru (causative)
dogimo o nukasu (causative)
度肝を抜ける (potential)
どぎもをぬける (potential)
dogimo o nukeru (potential)
度肝を抜こう (volitional)
どぎもをぬこう (volitional)
dogimo o nukō (volitional)
度肝を抜かない (negative)
どぎもをぬかない (negative)
dogimo o nukanai (negative)
度肝を抜かず (continuative negative)
どぎもをぬかず (continuative negative)
dogimo o nukazu (continuative negative)
度肝を抜きます (formal)
どぎもをぬきます (formal)
dogimo o nukimasu (formal)
度肝を抜いた (perfective)
どぎもをぬいた (perfective)
dogimo o nuita (perfective)
度肝を抜いて (conjunctive)
どぎもをぬいて (conjunctive)
dogimo o nuite (conjunctive)
度肝を抜けば (conditional hypothetical)
どぎもをぬけば (conditional hypothetical)
dogimo o nukeba (conditional hypothetical)

Compound of 度肝 + を + 抜く, literally "to take out someone's liver".

度肝を抜かれた


海老で鯛を釣る

ja-pos

えび で たい を つる

海老(えび)で鯛(たい)を釣(つ)る • (ebi de tai o tsuru)

海老で鯛を釣る (canonical)
ebi de tai o tsuru (romanization)

Literally "fish a sea bream with shrimp".

throw a sprat to catch a mackerel
throw a sprat to catch a mackerel


海老の鯛交じり

海老(えび)の鯛(たい)交(ま)じり • (ebi no tai majiri)

海老の鯛交じり (canonical)
ebi no tai majiri (romanization)

Literally “a shrimp in the mix of sea breams”.

something or someone small or insignificant among great things or people; a fool among sages


海老鯛

海老鯛(えびたい) • (ebitai) ^(←えびたひ (ebitafi)?)

海老鯛 (canonical)
ebitai (romanization)
ebitafi (romanization)
えびたひ (hiragana historical)

海老で鯛を釣る 海老で鯛を釣る#Japanese

Short for 海老で鯛を釣る (ebi de tai o tsuru): fish a sea bream with shrimp; throw a sprat to catch a mackerel


どうしようもない

there is no other way to deal with it; there is no other course of action


いらっしゃい

Imperative form (命令形) of いらっしゃる (irassharu); shortening of いらっしゃいまし (irasshaimashi).

Interjection used to welcome someone's visit: welcome

Interjection used by stores to attract customers.


過ぎない

嘘に過ぎない

merely lies and nothing else; purely lies


洋の東西を問わず

ja-phrase

よう の とうざい を とわず

洋(よう)の東(とう)西(ざい)を問(と)わず • (yō no tōzai o towazu)

洋の東西を問わず (canonical)
yō no tōzai o towazu (romanization)

Literally “regardless in both the East and the West”.


何でも

この犬はほとんど何でも食べます。


下手をすると

下手をすると (canonical)
heta o suru to (romanization)


とばかり

From と (to, conjunctive particle) + adverbial particle ばかり (bakari, “just, only”).

今はただ思ひ絶えなむとばかりを人づてならで言ふよしもがな

1086, Goshūi Wakashū (book 13, poem 750; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 63)

Now is the only, and the only [time, that] I give up [on meeting you] without an intermediary, if there was to say in such a way.

ima wa tada omoitaenan to bakari o hitozute narade iu yoshi mogana


微レ存

⇒ Chinese:

Mandarin: 微存

Shortening of 微粒子(びりゅうし)レベルで存在(そんざい)している (biryūshi reberu de sonzai shiteiru, “existing at the level of microparticles”).

ja-r

微粒子レベルで存在している

びりゅうし レベル で そんざい している

(Internet slang) has a small possibility of existing

ja:コートコーポレーション#『真夏の夜の淫夢』


をば

を (o, object marker) + は (wa, topic marker), with the second component voiced.

compound

(Classical Japanese or archaic) Emphatic form of the object marker を (o).


お初にお目にかかります

ja-pos

お-はつ に お-め に かかります

お初(はつ)にお目(め)にかかります • (o-hatsu ni o-me ni kakarimasu)

お初にお目にかかります (canonical)
o-hatsu ni o-me ni kakarimasu (romanization)


詰んだ

(Internet slang) game over, with no success possible


+α

+α (canonical)
purasu arufa (romanization)

[pɯ̟ɾa̠sɨ a̠ɾɯ̟ɸa̠]

Unclear. α may be a corruption of x, as might be used in math. Literally, it is "plus alpha".


全俺が泣いた

全俺が泣いた (canonical)
zen'ore ga naita (romanization)

Parody of 全米(ぜんべい)が泣(な)いた (zenbei ga naita, “the entirety of America cried”), a clichéd Japanese tagline applied to Hollywood movies, swapping 米(べい) (bei, “the United States”) with 俺(おれ) (ore, “me”, masculine).


破竹の勢い

ja-pos

破(は)竹(ちく)の勢(いきお)い • (hachiku no ikioi) ^(←はちくのいきほひ (fatikunoikifofi)?)

破竹の勢い (canonical)
hachiku no ikioi (romanization)
fatikunoikifofi (romanization)
はちくのいきほひ (hiragana historical)

Calque of Literary Chinese 破竹之勢, literally "the vigor and force of breaking bamboo"


看板に偽りなし

ja-phrase

かんばん に いつわり なし

看(かん)板(ばん)に偽(いつわ)りなし • (kanban ni itsuwari nashi)

看板に偽りなし (canonical)
kanban ni itsuwari nashi (romanization)

Literally, "the signboard has [tells] no lies."

there is no discrepancy between external appearance and true substance


やりきれない

「悲しくてやりきれない」

"Unbearably Sad" (song by the Folk Crusaders)


気に障る

気に障る (canonical)
ki ni sawaru (romanization)


塵も積もれば山となる

ja-pos

ちり も つもれば やま と なる

塵(ちり)も積(つ)もれば山(やま)となる • (chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru)

塵も積もれば山となる (canonical)
chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru (romanization)

1979, Sohō Tokutomi, Kiyoshi Hiraizumi, Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi [Recent history of the Japanese people], page 6:

世に「塵も積もれば山となる」という諺があるが、わが「近世日本国民史」も、まさしくこの通りだ。

Yo ni “chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru” to iu kotowaza ga aru ga, waga “Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi” mo, masashiku kono tōri da.

There is an expression, "Even piled up dust becomes a mountain," and to us this certainly applies to Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi.

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

many a mickle makes a muckle, small things together become a large thing; literally dust, if piled up, becomes a mountain


胸熱

胸が熱くなる 胸が熱くなる#Japanese


嫌よ嫌よも好きのうち

ja-phrase

いや よ いや よ も すき の うち

嫌(いや)よ嫌(いや)よも好(す)きのうち • (iya yo iya yo mo suki no uchi)

嫌よ嫌よも好きのうち (canonical)
iya yo iya yo mo suki no uchi (romanization)

the lady doth protest too much
the lady doth protest too much

(informal) the lady doth protest too much; a girl's protests should not necessarily be taken at face value.


アイ・ラブ・ユー

ja-pos

アイ・ラブ・ユー • (ai rabu yū)

[a̠i ɾa̠bɯ̟ jɯ̟ː]

2009, Sharon Sala, translated by Shiori Takeuchi, Kanashimi o tsutsumu yoru ni, translation of Cut Throat (in English):

彼女はぶつぶつ言いながら受話器を置いた。「いったいどうしたっていうの？たかが三つの単語じゃない。アイ・ラブ・ユー。アイ・ラブ・ユー。アイ・ラブ・ユー。」

Kanojo wa butsubutsu ii nagara juwaki o oita. “Ittai dō shita tte iu no? Takaga mitsu no tango janai. Ai rabu yū. Ai rabu yū. Ai rabu yū.”

She grumbled as she replaced the phone. “What is he talking about? It’s not just three words. I love you. I love you. I love you.”


お疲れ様です

お疲れ様です (canonical)
o-tsukare-sama desu (romanization)

I appreciate your efforts, thank you very much, good work


世界中

世(せ)界(かい)中(じゅう) • (sekaijū) ^(←せかいぢゆう (sekaidyuu)?)

世界中 (canonical)
sekaijū (romanization)
sekaidyuu (romanization)
せかいぢゆう (hiragana historical)

From 世界 (sekai, “world”) + 中 (-jū, “all over, throughout”).

suffix

all the world is plaster wall; in a positive sense, in reference to finding employment

世界中が白壁造り: → there are plenty more fish in the sea


あびらうんけんそわか

ja-pos

あ-び-ら-うん-けん そわか

阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶 阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶#Japanese

阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶: a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ svāhā


唵阿毘羅吽欠

おん あ-び-ら-うん-けん

唵(おん)阿(あ)毘(び)羅(ら)吽(うん)欠(けん) • (on a-bi-ra-un-ken)

唵阿毘羅吽欠 (canonical)
on a-bi-ra-un-ken (romanization)

[o̞ɰ̃ a̠bʲiɾa̠ɯ̟̃ŋkẽ̞ɴ]

Transliteration of Sanskrit ॐ अविरहूम्खम् (oṃ avirahūmkham).
Equivalent to a phrase compound of 唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 阿毘羅吽欠(あびらうんけん) (a-bi-ra-un-ken, “a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ”).

bor

ॐ अविरहूम्खम्

ja-compound

(Buddhism) oṃ a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ: an incantation directed to 大日如来 (Dainichi Nyorai, “Mahavairocana”)


阿毘羅吽欠

ja-pos

阿(あ)毘(び)羅(ら)吽(うん)欠(けん) • (a-bi-ra-un-ken)

阿毘羅吽欠 (canonical)
a-bi-ra-un-ken (romanization)

Transliteration of Sanskrit अविरहूम्खम् (avirahūmkham).

(Buddhism) a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ: a mantra or incantation directed to 大日如来 (Dainichi Nyorai, “Mahavairocana”), the five syllables representing the five elements in Japanese philosophy


ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ

ねんぴ ^かんのん りき とう じん だんだん え

ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ • (nenpi Kannon riki tō jin dandan e)

nenpi Kannon riki tō jin dandan e (romanization)

念彼観音力刀尋段段壊 念彼観音力刀尋段段壊#Japanese

en-ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ-ja-phrase-G9qSRm55


無我夢中

無我夢中 (canonical)
mugamuchū (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɡa̠mɯ̟t͡ɕɨː]


ここぞとばかりに

ja-phrase

ここ ぞ と ばかり に

com

ここぞ + と + ばかり + に


出奇制勝

出奇制勝 (canonical)
shukki seishō (romanization)

[ɕɨk̚ʲkʲi se̞ːɕo̞ː]


鰐の口

鰐の口 (canonical)
wani no kuchi (romanization)


んだ

Regular abbreviation of のだ, a compound of particle の (no, particle of emphasis) and だ (da, auxiliary verb of assertion).


んだ

んだんだ

んだべ


面会謝絶

ja-phrase

面(めん)会(かい)謝(しゃ)絶(ぜつ) • (menkai shazetsu) ^(←めんくわいしやぜつ (menkwai syazetu)?)

面会謝絶 (canonical)
menkai shazetsu (romanization)
menkwai syazetu (romanization)
めんくわいしやぜつ (hiragana historical)

From 面会(めんかい) (menkai, “face-to-face meeting”) + 謝絶(しゃぜつ) (shazetsu, “refusal”).


万国の労働者よ、団結せよ

ja-phrase

万国の労働者よ、団結せよ！

ばんこく の ろうどうしゃ よ、だんけつ せよ

万(ばん)国(こく)の労(ろう)働(どう)者(しゃ)よ、団(だん)結(けつ)せよ！ • (bankoku no rōdōsha yo, danketsu seyo)

万国の労働者よ、団結せよ！ (canonical)
bankoku no rōdōsha yo, danketsu seyo (romanization)

workers of the world, unite
workers of the world, unite


うぽつ

Abbreviation of うp乙 (upu-otsu). Popular on Niconico Video since 2011 (https://originalnews.nico/346226), although it is from before then.

(Internet slang) Thank uploader for uploading the video.


身を尽くす

身を尽くす (canonical)
mi o tsukusu (romanization)
身を尽くさ (irrealis stem)
みをつくさ (irrealis stem)
mi wo tukusa (irrealis)
身を尽くし (continuative stem)
みをつくし (continuative stem)
mi wo tukusi (continuative)
身を尽くす (stem terminative)
みをつくす (stem terminative)
mi wo tukusu (terminative)
身を尽くす (attributive stem)
みをつくす (attributive stem)
mi wo tukusu (attributive)
身を尽くせ (realis stem)
みをつくせ (realis stem)
mi wo tukuse (realis)
身を尽くせ (imperative stem)
みをつくせ (imperative stem)
mi wo tukuse (imperative)
身を尽くさず (negative)
みをつくさず (negative)
mi wo tukusazu (negative)
身を尽くせど (contrastive)
みをつくせど (contrastive)
mi wo tukusedo (contrastive)
身を尽くせば (causative)
みをつくせば (causative)
mi wo tukuseba (causative)
身を尽くさば (conditional)
みをつくさば (conditional)
mi wo tukusaba (conditional)
身を尽くしき (past)
みをつくしき (past)
mi wo tukusiki (past)
身を尽くしけり (past)
みをつくしけり (past)
mi wo tukusikeri (past)
身を尽くしつ (perfect)
みをつくしつ (perfect)
mi wo tukusitu (perfect)
身を尽くしぬ (perfect)
みをつくしぬ (perfect)
mi wo tukusinu (perfect)
身を尽くせり (continuative perfect)
身を尽くしたり (continuative perfect)
みをつくせり (continuative perfect)
みをつくしたり (continuative perfect)
mi wo tukuseri (continuative perfect)
mi wo tukusitari (continuative perfect)
身を尽くさむ (volitional)
みをつくさむ (volitional)
mi wo tukusamu (volitional)

わびぬれば今はたおなじ難波なる身をつくしても逢はむとぞ思ふ

wabinureba ima hata onaji Naniwa naru mi o tsukushite mo awan to zo omou

Such misery this; let my name grow again common as the channel stakes of Naniwa, I would cast this body away to gaze on you once again!

(figurative) to wear out with one's heart and soul