Every now and then, I share a Japanese word or phrase that I find interesting and worth sharing. For some words, the links to the relevant blog posts are provided, where I give you more detailed explanations (e.g. Usage, Origin, Related Words)
Table of Contents
無限に
Word Type
Slang
Yomi
むげんに
Literal Meaning
in an infinite manner
Meaning
limitlessly; forever
Additional Info
This slang usage sounds very casual and young
Related Post
Example
このラーメンうますぎ、無限に食えるわ
This ramen is too yum, I can eat it forever
やることが無限にある
I have endless things to do
案の定
Word Type
Word
Yomi
あんのじょう
Literal Meaning
Meaning
As one expected/worried/feared
Additional Info
Usually used for bad incidents, as in the example sentence below.
Related Post
Example
案の定、彼は遅刻してきた
He came late as I worried
…泣かせの
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
なかせの
Literal Meaning
make … cry
Meaning
cause a lot of trouble to …
Additional Info
Related Post
Example
「…泣かせの」という言い回しは、機械翻訳泣かせの表現だ
The phrase “…泣かせの” is an expression that causes a lot of trouble for machine translation
同時通訳者泣かせの早口な演説者
A fast speaker who causes a lot of trouble for simultaneous interpreters
賛否両論
Word Type
word
Yomi
さんぴりょうろん
Literal Meaning
for-against-both-theory
Meaning
There are arguments both for and against something; controversial
Additional Info
Related Post
Example
あの監督の決断は賛否両論だった
The decision of the head coach was controversial.
いわんや …をや
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
Literal Meaning
Meaning
let alone …; needless to mention …
Additional Info
This is a very traditional phrase and is mainly used in writing. It corresponds to 況 …乎 in old Chinese.
Related Post
Example
彼はカタカナすら覚えるのに苦労している。いわんや漢字をや、だ
He’s having trouble memorising katakana; let alone kanji
捗る
Word Type
word
Yomi
はかどる
Literal Meaning
Meaning
“(one’s work/studies) go well; one can stay focused and make much progress (on one’s work/studies)”
Additional Info
The subject is what you do (e.g. work), not a person. (cf) 進捗 (しんちょく): “progress”
Related Post
Example
自宅よりオフィスの方が仕事が捗る
I can focus on working in an office more than at home.
よそはよそ、うちはうち
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
Literal Meaning
Others are others, we are we
Meaning
everyone is different; stop yearning for something that other people have.
Additional Info
a classic phrase often used by parents when their children yearn for something that their friends have (e.g. new video games, fancy expensive toys)
Related Post
Example
お母さん、iPhone 13 Pro Max買って！ひろし君はもう持っているよ！
(kid) “Hey mum, could you buy me iPhone 13 Pro Max? Hiroshi-kun also has got one already!”
よそはよそ、うちはうち
(mum) “Others are others, we are we”
…らしくない
Word Type
phrase
Yomi
Literal Meaning
Meaning
atypical of/not like someone
Additional Info
A word before らしくない is sometimes omitted, as in the second sentence below.
Related Post
Example
あのバンドらしくない曲(きょく)
A song that is atypical of the band
遅刻(ちこく)するなんて、らしくないね
It’s not like (you) to come late.
手のひらを返す
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
てのひらをかえす
Literal Meaning
turn one’s palm over
Meaning
change one’s tune after something one didn’t expect has happened (so that it agrees with the fact); do a 180
Additional Info
(Example of “turning one’s palm over”)
“He must be a fool, I can tell.”
**After knowing he got great marks in exams**
“I knew he is a genius!” (“turning one’s palm over”)
Related Post
Example
すぐに手のひらを返すやつは信用できない
People who easily change their tune are not trustworthy.
お言葉に甘えて
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
おことばにあまえて
Literal Meaning
let me get spoiled by your words
Meaning
a humble and polite expression to use when you accept a favour from someone
Additional Info
Probably not commonly used among young people
Related Post
Example
今日うちで晩御飯食べていきますか？
Do you wanna have dinner at my house today (before you go)?
じゃあ、お言葉に甘えて…
Yes, I’d love to.
サクラ
Word Type
word
Yomi
さくら
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
a shill
Additional Info
As you know, 桜 (Sakura) means “cherry blossom”, but when written in katakana (サクラ), it also means “a shill”. (Note that サクラ can mean “cherry blossom” as well depending on the context).
Related Post
Example
この口コミサイトにはサクラがたくさんいる
There are lots of shills on this review site
お祈りメール
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
おいのりめーる
Literal Meaning
wish email
Meaning
an email that starts with “We regret to inform you that …” and ends with “We wish you the best in …”
Additional Info
Example of お祈りメール:
大変残念ではございますが、今回は採用を見送らせていただくことになりました。…様の、より一層のご活躍をお祈り申し上げます
You can also say お祈りされた (“I was wished”) when you receive such an email. There is also a (less common) slang term called サイレントお祈り (“silent wish”), which means you get rejected without email notification.
Related Post
Example
就活中、お祈りメールをたくさんもらって辛かった
When looking for a job, I received lots of “wish emails” and that was tough
文武両道
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
ぶんぶりょうどう
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
the spirit of pursuing excellence in both sports and academics
Additional Info
Related Post
Example
あのサッカー部のキャプテンはテストでも学年１位をとり、文武両道を達成している。
The captain of the soccer club scored the best on the school exams; he achieves the spirit of excelling in both sports and academics.
…日和
Word Type
word
Yomi
…びより
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
a perfect (fine) weather to do …
Additional Info
Related Post
Example
今日は天気が良くて、野球日和(やきゅうびより)だ！
The weather is good today; perfect weather to play baseball!
洗濯日和 (せんたくびより)
perfect weather to do laundry
右も左も分からない
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
みぎもひだりもわからない
Literal Meaning
don’t understand right or left
Meaning
don’t know anything, esp. in a new place/environment
Additional Info
It’s often used to describe yourself when you’re a complete stranger to a new place or unfamiliar with things in a new environment. This phrase is often used to show one’s gratitude, as in the example below.
Related Post
Example
入社したばかりで右も左も分からない時に、先輩に色んなことを教えてもらって非常に助かった。
When I just joined the company and didn’t know anything, I was taught a lot of stuff by my senpai and that was very helpful.
目から鱗
Word Type
Idiom
Yomi
めからうろこ
Literal Meaning
The scales (fall) from one’s eyes
Meaning
= enlightening, informative, eye-opening
Additional Info
While this phrase originates from Bible, it is more casually used in Japanese than English.
Related Post
Example
あの先生の授業は、マジ目から鱗だった
The lecture by the teacher was quite an eye-opener
ちんぷんかんぷん
Word Type
Word
Yomi
None
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
mumbo jumbo; be all Greek
Additional Info
Its kanji is 珍紛漢紛 but rarely used
Related Post
Example
ハイデガーの「存在と時間」を試しに読んでみたけど、ちんぷんかんぷんだった
I tried reading Heidegger’s “Being and Time” but it was all Greek to me
つまらないものですが…
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
None
Literal Meaning
(This) is trivial/not interesting, but…
Meaning
This is not much/just a little something, but…
Additional Info
A traditional Japanese phrase to say when you give a present to someone in a humble way. It’s not commonly used among young ppl these days, but still often used in anime/drama.
Related Post
Example
これ、つまらないものですが…
This is not much, but (I hope you’ll like it)
わざわざすみません、ありがとうございます！
Oh you didn’t have to, thank you very much!
~じゃあるまいし
Word Type
phrase
Yomi
~じゃあるまいし
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
As something/someone is not ~
Additional Info
Often used when one denies something
Related Post
None
Example
子供じゃあるまいし、こんなので興奮しないわ！
As I’m not a kid, I don’t get excited by things like this!
ドラマじゃあるまいし、そんな奇跡は起きないよ
As it’s not a drama, such a miracle won’t happen
二度寝する
Word Type
standard
Yomi
にどねする
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
go back to sleep soon after waking up
Additional Info
None
Related Post
None
Example
週末はつい二度寝してしまう。
On weekends, I can’t resist going back to sleep after I wake up.
やみつき
Word Type
standard
Yomi
やみつき
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
be absorbed in something; addicted
Additional Info
It is often used to describe food that is so yummy that it makes you addicted. Originally, やみつき is written as “病み付き” and means “catch a disease”, but this meaning is rarely used nowadays. It is often used as やみつきになる, “be addicted”
Related Post
None
Example
一度食べたらやみつきになる味
The taste that makes you addicted once you have it.
杞憂
Word Type
standard
Yomi
きゆう
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
unduly worrying about something that is very unlikely to occur; unnecessary fear/worrying
Additional Info
It originates from an ancient Chinese philosophical (Taoist) text, 列子 (Liezi), where a man from 杞 (Qi) enormously worried and feared that the sky might fall down someday, insomuch that he couldn’t sleep. The word 杞憂 is short for 杞人憂天, meaning “a man from 杞 worries about the sky”. It is often used as 杞憂に終わった, meaning “ended up being/turned out to be 杞憂” (≒ “what one was worried about didn’t happen”). The kanji 憂 is used in the notoriously difficult-to-write Japanese word “憂鬱 (ゆううつ)”, meaning “depression”.
Related Post
None
Example
新しい学校で友達が出来るか心配していたけど、杞憂に終わった。
I was worried that I could make friends at a new school, but that worrying turned out to be unnecessary.
筋トレしすぎたら今の服が入らなくなるかもと心配したけど、完全に杞憂だった
I was worried that if I work out too much, I may become too big to wear the clothes I have now. But that was completely unnecessary worrying (= it has never happened).
とっくのとうに
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
とっくのとうに
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
a long time ago; ages ago
Additional Info
It is often used when someone asks you something and you answer “It was done/finished loooong time ago!”. Instead of とっくのとうに, just とっくに is also used but the former puts more emphasis on the statement.
Related Post
None
Example
え、彼女はどうだって？とっくのとうに別れたよ。
What, how is my girlfriend? We broke up ages ago.
金魚のフン
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
きんぎょのふん
Literal Meaning
goldfish poop
Meaning
people who always follow or tag along with a particular person
Additional Info
This idiom comes from the fact that when goldfish takes a poop, the poop often remains attached to it, like following it. It is often used as 金魚の糞のように or 金魚の糞みたいに, both meaning “like goldfish poop”. It might be somewhat old-fashioned; a more famous phrase which has a similar (if not the same) meaning would be 虎の威を借る狐, literally meaning “a fox that borrows the authority of a tiger” and figuratively “people who behave pretentiously behind someone strong or important”.
Related Post
None
Example
彼は金魚の糞みたいに上司といつも一緒にいる
He is always with his boss like goldfish poop.
冷やかし
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
ひやかし
Literal Meaning
something that cools off things
Meaning
1. people who look around a shop in a non-serious or even mocking manner with no intention to purchase an item or service there.
2. the act of making fun of someone
Additional Info
Its verb form is 冷やかす. Originally, it means “just to look around women in a brothel for fun and leave without spending money”. Therefore, it is still often used in that sense but also used for other things, like entering a kimono shop, taking heaps of pictures of the items, and leaving the store without buying anything. It is often used in the phrase 冷やかしはお断り, meaning “冷やかし is not allowed”, i.e. “If you don’t intend to buy anything, please don’t come in”.
Related Post
None
Example
冷やかしの客が多くて、腹が立つ.
I feel irritated because there are lots of customers who enter my store just for fun and don’t buy anything.
しょぼい
Word Type
casual word
Yomi
しょぼい
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
of poor quality; lousy; unexciting; dull
Additional Info
None
Related Post
None
Example
このゲーム、マジでしょぼい
This game is so dull.
結果論
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
けっかろん
Literal Meaning
result theory
Meaning
an idea/afterthought with hindsight; subsequently suggesting an optimal choice one could have taken in the past
Additional Info
It is often used to criticise the act of saying that one should have done something after everything has become clear. One of its synonyms is たられば (“what-if scenario”).
Related Post
None
Example
「去年株に投資すべきだった」と言うけど、それは結果論に過ぎない。
Although you say “You should have invested in stocks”, that is just an idea with the benefit of hindsight.
早い者勝ち
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
はやいものがち
Literal Meaning
people who come early win
Meaning
First come, first served
Additional Info
It sounds slightly childish compared to its synonym, 先着順 (せんちゃくじゅん), meaning “first-arrive order”. Its antonymous expression (proverb) would be 残り物には福がある, meaning “a fortune is in the remnants”, similar to “good things come to those who wait”.
Related Post
None
Example
チョコレート欲しい人はこっちにおいで！早い者勝ちだよ！
If you want chocolates, please come here! First come, first served!
屁でもない
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
へでもない
Literal Meaning
not even a fart
Meaning
trivial; have no value or impact; nothing
Additional Info
Synonym of 痛くも痒くもない (“not painful or itchy”)
Related Post
None
Example
好きな人にみんなの前で告白してフラれた時の辛さと比べたら、こんなの屁でもない
This is nothing compared to the hardship that I had when I confessed my love to my crush and got rejected in front of everyone.
あっという間
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
あっというま, attoiuma
Literal Meaning
While saying あ
Meaning
the blink of an eye; in a very short time; time flies
Additional Info
This idiom is so common that some people probably do not notice its literal meaning. It is often used as あっという間に… (“in the blink of an eye”) or あっという間だった (“it was the blink of an eye”)
Related Post
None
Example
あっという間に雨が止んだ。
It stopped raining in the blink of an eye.
たられば
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
たられば, tarareba
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
hypothetical; unreal; what if
Additional Info
It comes from the conditional forms ~たら and ~れば. It is often used to talk about what if one had done something in the past.
Related Post
None
Example
今更たらればの話をしてもしょうがない。
It is no use to talk about now what if we had done this and that in the past.
かけらもない
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
かけらもない, kakera mo nai
Literal Meaning
(there is) not even a piece.
Meaning
not … at all
Additional Info
It is used as …のかけらもない, meaning “(there is/one has) no … at all”
Related Post
None
Example
彼にはファッションセンスのかけらもない
He has no fashion sense whatsoever.
目がない
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
めがない, meganai
Literal Meaning
have no eyes
Meaning
have a strong interest/liking; really like; be preoccupied
Additional Info
None
Related Post
None
Example
チョコレートには目がない。
I have a strong liking for chocolates
ホッとする
Word Type
standard
Yomi
ほっとする, hottosuru
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
feel relieved
Additional Info
Synonym of 安心する
Related Post
None
Example
迷子になった息子を見つけて、ホッとした。
I found my son after he got lost and I felt relieved.
初耳
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
はつみみ, hatsumimi
Literal Meaning
first ears
Meaning
I’ve just learnt it; I didn’t know that; I was today’s years old
Additional Info
寝耳に水 (“water on sleeping ears”) is an idiom meaning “astonished to hear something”.
Related Post
None
Example
えちょっと待って、あの二人付き合っているの？ 初耳だよ!
Wait, are they dating? I didn’t know that!
内弁慶
Word Type
idiom
Yomi
うちべんけい, uchi benkei
Literal Meaning
inside Benkei; Benkei at home
Meaning
be aggressive and arrogant towards one’s parents/family at home (内/ウチ), but quiet and faint-hearted outside (外/ソト).
Additional Info
弁慶 (Benkei), whose full name is 武蔵坊弁慶 (Benkei Musashibo), was a historic monk warrior (1155–1189) who was allegedly known for his strong power and aggressive nature. Similarly, ネット弁慶, literally “Internet Benkei”, means “a keyboard warrior”.
Related Post
None
Example
うちの息子は典型的な内弁慶で、外では静かでシャイなのに家では偉そうにする。
My son is a typical “Benkei at home”; while he is quiet and shy outside, he is arrogant and self-important at home.
有言実行
Word Type
四字熟語
Yomi
ゆうげんじっこう, yuugen jikkou
Literal Meaning
with words, carry out
Meaning
“keep one’s word; (laudably) accomplish what one has promised before”
Additional Info
Antonym: するする詐欺 (suru suru sagi): “All-Talk-No-Action Fraud”
Related Post
None
Example
あの選手(せんしゅ)は有言実行で金(きん)メダルをとった。
The athlete won the gold medal as he/she promised before.
職業病
Word Type
Slang
Yomi
しょくぎょうびょう, shokugyou byou
Literal Meaning
occupational disease
Meaning
something you can’t resist doing (whether you like it or not) because you do it all the time at work
Additional Info
Translators may often find themselves assessing the quality of subtitles while watching films due to their 職業病
Related Post
Slang Meaning of 職業病 (shokugyou byou, “Occupational Disease”)
Example
歯科医の男友達が、人が話しているときについ歯を見てしまうと言っていたけれど、まさに職業病だね
A male friend of mine who is a dentist said that he cannot help checking the teeth of someone when they’re talking. This is exactly his 職業病
自己満
Yomi
じこまん, jikoman
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
self-satisfaction/for the sake of satisfying oneself
Additional Info
It can be either negative or neutral, as shown in the example sentences below.
Related Post
None
Example
人のためと彼は言うけど、ただの自己満に見える
Tho he says it’s for others, it looks like he’s just self-satisfied
自己満で絵を描いている
I draw pictures just for fun/myself
寝落ちする
Yomi
ねおちする, neochisuru
Literal Meaning
to sleep and fall
Meaning
to fall asleep while doing something, without realising it.
Additional Info
Synonym of 船(ふね)を漕(こ)ぐ, literally meaning “row a boat” and figuratively “nod off while sitting”
Related Post
None
Example
テレビゲームしてたら寝落ちしてた。
I was playing video games and fell asleep without realising it.
腹八分目 (はらはちぶんめ)
Literal Meaning
belly 80 %
Meaning
to stop eating when you feel 80% full (for your good health)
Additional Info
There is a saying, “腹八分目に医者(いしゃ)いらず” meaning “You don’t need a doctor by exercising 腹八分目”.
Related Post
Meaning of 腹八分目 (hara hachi bun me) and 分 (bun) in Japanese
Example
腹八分目の食事(しょくじ)を心(こころ)がけよう
Keep it in mind that you stop eating when you feel 80% full.
バレる
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
“(something you hide is) discovered/found out by someone; become known to the public”
Additional Info
And ネタバレ means “spoiler”, which is short for “ネタがバレる” (an idea comes known to the public). ネタバレする means “to spoil (a plot of movies/books/manga, etc.)”
Related Post
None
Example
子供(こども)の頃(ころ)、ポケモン赤にハマったなぁ。あ、歳(とし)がバレる
When I was a child, I was into Pokémon Red. Oops, that’d reveal my age.
樽(たる)の中にお金(かね)を隠(かく)していたが、すぐバレた。バレルだけに…
Although I hid my money inside a barrel, it bareta (was discovered) easily. Because it’s “barrel”, you know…?
~だけに
Literal Meaning
None
Meaning
because ~, you know?
Additional Info
It is used when you make a (cheesy) pun. Usually, It’s used in inverted word order and put at the end of a sentence/remark.
Related Post
Meaning of だけに (dake ni) and Its Usage to Make a Pun in Japanese
Example
このスープあっさりしてるね、アサリだけに
This soup tastes “assari” (light), because it’s “asari” (clam) soup, you know?
~ は別腹 (べつばら)
Literal Meaning
“have a separate stomach for ~”
Meaning
(Even after I eat a lot) I can still eat ~
Additional Info
It is often used when you make an excuse or provide a reason for eating something (esp. desserts or snacks) after you eat a whole meal.
Example
デザートは別腹だから、こってりラーメンを食べた後でも全然食べれる
As I have a separate stomach for desserts, I can readily eat them even after I’ve eaten thick-taste ramen
朝飯前(あさめしまえ)
Literal Meaning
“before breakfast”
Meaning
a piece of cake, very easy
Additional Info
It’s a synonym of お茶のこさいさい
Example
あの万年最下位のチームに勝(か)つなんて、朝飯前だ。
It’s a piece of cake (for us) to beat that team, which always ranks at the bottom.
胃袋(いぶくろ)を掴(つか)む
Literal Meaning
“grab/grip one’s stomach”
Meaning
“attract or ‘grip’ someone you like by cooking her/him delicious food”
Additional Info
It is usually used as “…に胃袋を掴まれた meaning “My stomach has been gripped by …)” when you are smitten by a great cook.
Example
初めて彼の手料理を食べた時に完全に胃袋を掴まれてしまい、それ以来、仕事が終わるとすぐ彼の家に行くようになった。
When I ate his home-cooked meal for the first time, my stomach was completely gripped, and since then I started going to his house as soon as I finish work.