Yomi はらぐろい Rōmaji haraguroi Type idiom Literal Meaning black belly Meaning (look nice on the outside yet) be evil/malicious on the inside Antonym 素直, 裏表のない Additional Info It’s often used to describe a person who acts like a good person but actually has malicious or mean thoughts inside his/her heart. Example 彼女は腹黒いから、心(こころ)の中(なか)で何を考(かんが)えているのか分(わ)からない。 Because she is evil on the inside, we have no idea what she’s thinking in her heart.Read More

Yomi ふとっぱら Rōmaji futoppara Type idiom Literal Meaning fat belly Meaning generous Synonym 気前がいい Antonym ケチ Additional Info To memorise this word, you may picture a stereotypical rich and generous man who is a little obese. Example 夜(よる)ご飯(はん)奢(おご)ってくれるの？太っ腹だね You’ll buy me dinner? You’re so generous!Read More

Yomi ばちがあたる Rōmaji bachi ga ataru Type idiom Meaning Something bad happens to someone as a consequence of their ill behaviour in the past; pay the price Synonym 自業自得 Additional Info Its idea may sound like a religious (Buddhist) belief, but this expression is widely and casually used among Japanese people regardless of their religion. Example 不倫していた友達が会社をクビになったらしい。バチが当たったんだろう I’ve heard that my friend who has been cheating on his wife got fired from his company. That’d be because of his bad karma 人の悪口ばかり言っていると、いつかバチが当たるよ。 If you always speak ill of others, you’ll pay the price someday. Related Post How The Japanese Word 神 (Kami, ‘God’) Is Used MetaphoricallyRead More

Yomi ありがためいわく Rōmaji arigata meiwaku Type idiom Literal Meaning helpful nuisance Meaning unpleasant favour Synonym お節介, 首を突っ込む, 大きなお世話 Additional Info ありがたい (“helpful, beneficial, precious”) + 迷惑 (めいわく, “nuisance”). It usually contains a sarcastic connotation. It is a synonym of お節介; the minor difference is that while ありがた迷惑 describes someone’s favour with a bit of irony, お節介 describes your annoyance like “That’s is none of your business”. Example 彼女かのじょが親切しんせつにも部屋へやの掃除そうじしてくれたけど、物ものがどこにあるかわからなくなったし、正直しょうじきありがた迷惑だわ My girlfriend kindly cleaned my room, but that was honestly an unwelcome favour because now I don’t know where all my stuff is. 母親ははおやがよく大量たいりょうのお菓子かしを送おくってくるけれど、あんまり好このみのお菓子かしじゃないし、ありがた迷惑だなー。 My mom often sends me lots of snacks, but that is an unwelcome favour because they are not my favourite. Related Post…Read More