Takashi's Japanese Dictionary

A blog for learning Japanese that introduces Japanese slang words and Idioms!

ABCのAの字もない

Rōmaji ABC no A no ji mo nai Type idiom Literal Meaning one doesn’t even have the character A in ABC. Meaning not have/show the slightest element or sign of ABC not know the first thing about ABC Synonym かけらもない Additional Info “ABC” and “A” denote an arbitrary noun or adjective and its initial character, respectively. Note that it usually contains a sarcastic or disapproving tone. * This is rather a colloquial expression, but when you use it in writing and the initial letter of ABC is kanji, the first hiragana of its reading is often used (see the 2nd example sentence). ** Due to its flexible form, this is…Read More

企業秘密 (kigyou himitsu)

Yomi きぎょうひみつ Rōmaji kigyou himitsu Type slang Literal Meaning corporate secret Meaning top secret Synonym 秘密 Additional Info It is usually used humorously/exaggeratedly when you tell someone that you don’t want to share certain private information with them. Example このカレーどうやって作ったの? How did you cook this curry? それはねー、企業秘密！笑 Well, that’s top secret! lolRead More

半信半疑 (hanshin hangi)

Yomi はんしんはんぎ Rōmaji hanshin hangi Type idiom Literal Meaning half-believing, half-doubting Meaning (take something) with a skeptical attitude; with a grain of salt Antonym 盲目的に Additional Info This word is used in the hook part of the lyrics of the famous Japanese song しるし by Mr. Children. Example 卵(たまご)かけご飯(はん)が美味(おい)しいと日本人(にほんじん)の友達(ともだち)に言(い)われたので、半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)で試(ため)したら確(たし)かに美味(おい)しかった My Japanese friends told me that rice with raw egg and soy sauce tastes good, so I tried it and it was actually tasty.Read More

五十歩百歩 (gojuppo hyappo)

Yomi ごじゅっぽひゃっぽ Rōmaji gojuppo hyappo Type idiom Literal Meaning 50 steps, 100 steps Meaning be pretty much the same (and usually of low quality). Synonym どんぐりの背比べ, 似たり寄ったり, どっちもどっち Antonym 月とスッポン Additional Info It often contains a negative or sarcastic connotation that none of the available options or things/people to be compared are great or appealing, and they are essentially the same, e.g. 20 minutes late vs. 30 minutes late. In this sense, the closest English expression might be “pot calling the kettle black”. This idiom originates from “孟子(Mencius), a classic Chinese text based on conversations and anecdotes of the Chinese philosopher Mencius. In one of the stories, Mencius gives a…Read More

ハングリー精神 (hangurī seishin, “hungry spirit”)

Yomi はんぐりーせいしん Rōmaji hangurī seishin Type idiom Literal Meaning hungry spirit Meaning ambition; the mindset to stay hungry/motivated/ambitious Synonym 野心, 向上心 Antonym 安定志向 Additional Info It is often used to highlight the importance to stay hungry and ambitious. Example 彼はお金持ちになって、かつてのハングリー精神を失(うしな)ったように見える Since he became rich, he seems to have lost the ambition that he used to have Related Post List of Intriguing Japanese Compound Words Japanese Wasei-Eigo List (“Japlish”) and Their MeaningsRead More