Yomi どくしんきぞく Rōmaji dokushin kizoku Type idiom Literal Meaning an unmarried noble Meaning a single person (esp. the rich) who splurges on him/herself Additional Info It’s 単身贵族 in Chinese. Obviously, this word refers to single people in comparison to married people who have to devote their time and money to their families. Sometimes, this word is used just as a sugar-coated expression for unmarried people (and hence 独身貴族 are not always as rich as it sounds). Example 彼は独身貴族を満喫している He fully enjoys being single. Related Post Related Post: Essential Japanese Words and Idioms about Love/RomanceRead More

Yomi ふくろだたき Rōmaji fukuro dataki Type idiom Literal Meaning bag hitting Meaning to gang up on someone; (a plethora of people) bashing a particular person together Additional Info It is usually used as 袋叩きにする (an active form) or 袋叩き{にされる/にあう (a passive form) Example もし彼が同じことを公の場で行っていたら、袋叩きにあっていただろう。 If he had said the same thing in public, he would have been bashed by many people.Read More

Yomi いるす Rōmaji irusu Type idiom Meaning to pretend that one is not at home Additional Info 居(い)る (“be”) + 留守 (るす) (“away from home”) Example 真夜中にインターホンが鳴って知らない人がカメラに写っていたので、居留守した The doorbell rang at midnight and a stranger was on the camera, so I pretended I was not at home Related Post 15 Unique Japanese Portmanteau Words with Example SentencesRead More

Yomi しまぐにこんじょう Rōmaji shimaguni konjou Type idiom Literal Meaning island nation spirit Meaning the idea that citizens of island countries like Japan tend to be narrow-minded and exclusive towards “outsiders”, e.g. people who are from foreign countries; who do not follow social norms; or who seem to enjoy privileged opportunities Additional Info This term is often used when one criticises Japanese people for being exclusive towards those who do not follow social norms. Example 「出る杭は打たれる」という諺が日本人の島国根性を表している、と彼は言った “The proverb ‘the nail that sticks out gets hammered down’ represents the exclusive mindset of Japanese people”, he said.Read More

Yomi おぶらーとにつつむ Rōmaji oburāto ni tsutsumu Type idiom Literal Meaning to wrap (something) in oblaat Meaning (say something) in a mild and indirect way (and avoid being blunt) Additional Info Oblaat is a thin edible layer of starch used to coat bitter medicines or candies Synonym 遠回しに言う Antonym ストレートに言う, 単刀直入に言う Example もっとオブラートに包んだ言い方をしたほうがいいよ You’d better say things in a milder way. オブラートに包まず言うと、これあまりおいしくない To be candid with you, this isn’t very tastyRead More