Japanese idioms are like little puzzles-the words look familiar, but the meaning is something else entirely. This list gathers around 120 common expressions that pop up in dramas, conversations, and even your friend’s text messages. No ancient proverbs that nobody uses, just practical idioms that add color to your everyday Japanese.
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| Expression | Reading | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 顔から火が出る | かおからひがでる | to be extremely embarrassed | みんなの前で転んで、顔から火が出る思いでした。 | I tripped in front of everyone and was so embarrassed I wished I could disappear. |
| 顔が広い | かおがひろい | well-connected; know many people | 彼は顔が広いので、いろいろな人を知っています。 | He is well-connected, so he knows many different people. |
| 顔が立つ | かおがたつ | save face; one's reputation is preserved | 今回は彼の顔が立つように、私たちが引き受けました。 | This time, we took it on so that he could save face. |
| 顔に出る | かおにでる | show on one's face | うれしい気持ちが顔に出ていますよ。 | Your happy feelings are showing on your face. |
| 顔を出す | かおをだす | to show up briefly; to drop by | 仕事の帰りに友だちの店へ顔を出した。 | I dropped by my friend's shop on the way home from work. |
| 顔を合わせる | かおをあわせる | to meet face to face | 久しぶりに友達と顔を合わせた。 | I met my friend face to face for the first time in a while. |
| 首になる | くびになる | be fired; lose one's job | 彼は会社を首になった。 | He was fired from the company. |
| 首をかしげる | くびをかしげる | to tilt one's head in puzzlement; to wonder about something | その説明を聞いて、彼は首をかしげた。 | He tilted his head in puzzlement after hearing the explanation. |
| 首を突っ込む | くびをつっこむ | to poke one's nose into something | あまり人のことに首を突っ込まないほうがいいですよ。 | You'd better not stick your nose too much into other people's business. |
| 首を縦に振る | くびをたてにふる | to nod yes; to agree | 彼は静かに首を縦に振った。 | He quietly nodded yes. |
| 首を長くする | くびをながくする | wait eagerly | 子どもたちは遠足の日を首を長くして待っている。 | The children are eagerly waiting for the day of the field trip. |
| 馬が合う | うまがあう | get along well; click with someone | 私たちは初めて会ったのに馬が合った。 | We got along well even though it was our first meeting. |
| 骨が折れる | ほねがおれる | be hard work; be tiring | この作業は骨が折れる。 | This task is hard work. |
| 骨を休める | ほねをやすめる | to take a rest from hard work | 今日は家で骨を休めます。 | Today, I will rest at home. |
| 鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯 | おにのいぬまにせんたく | to relax and enjoy oneself while the boss is away | 先生がいないから、鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯で、みんなで遊んでいます。 | Since the teacher is away, we are all playing, like doing laundry while the demon is away. |
| 鯖を読む | さばをよむ | to fudge numbers; to lie about age or figures | 彼女は年齢を鯖を読んでいます。 | She is fudging her age. |
| 鼻が高い | はながたかい | be proud of; feel honored | 息子がほめられて、私は鼻が高いです。 | I'm proud that my son was praised. |
| 鼻であしらう | はなであしらう | to treat with contempt; to dismiss coldly | 店員に質問したら、鼻であしらわれて不愉快でした。 | When I asked a question to the store clerk, they treated me with contempt and it was unpleasant. |
| 鼻につく | はなにつく | be irritating; get on one's nerves | あの人の話し方は少し鼻につきます。 | That person's way of speaking is a little irritating. |
| 鼻を折る | はなをおる | to humble someone; to cut someone down to size | 先輩が彼の鼻を折った。 | The senior member cut him down to size. |
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