Yomi まんしんそうい Rōmaji manshin soui Type idiom, formal Meaning be wounded from head to toe, be (physically or mentally) worn out Synonym ボロボロ, 傷だらけ Antonym 元気はつらつ Additional Info 創痍 (そうい) means “wound” but is not commonly used by itself. Example 最近、足を怪我して腰も痛く、満身創痍だ。 Recently, I’ve injured my leg and  I’m also feeling pain in my back. I’m wounded from head to toe.Read More

Yomi だめもと Rōmaji damemoto Type idiom, casual Meaning with little hope of success, without expecting much Synonym 期待せず Antonym 期待して Additional Info It’s an abbreviation of 駄目(だめ)で元元(もともと), which is used itself with the same meaning. Example 財布(さいふ)を落としたからダメ元で交番(こうばん)に行ったら、幸運(こううん)にも誰(だれ)かが届(とど)けてくれていた I dropped my wallet, so I went to a police box without expecting much, but luckily someone returned it there.Read More

Yomi ゆうれいぶいん Rōmaji yuurei buin Type idiom Literal Meaning a ghost member at a school club Meaning people who belong to a school club and yet seldom appear in its events Additional Info The state where one does not belong to any club is called 帰宅部 (kitaku bu, “go home club”). Example この部活には３０人以上所属しているけど、ほとんどが幽霊部員だから実際は１０人くらいしか活動に参加しない。 More than 30 members belong to this school club but most of them are “ghost members” and in reality only 10 of them or so join the activities.Read More

Yomi めをさらのようにして Rōmaji me wo sara no youni shite Type idiom Literal Meaning make one’s eyes look like a plate Meaning very carefully/scrupulously Synonym 隈無く Additional Info It figuratively illustrates an eye wide open like a plate. Example 無(な)くしたコンタクトレンズを目を皿のようにして探(さが)した I searched for my lost contact lenses scrupulously.Read More

Yomi ちまなこになって Rōmaji chimanako ni natte Type idiom Literal Meaning with one’s eyes bloodshot Meaning desperately/frantically Synonym 必死に Additional Info Often used when one frantically or desperately looks for someone/something Example 迷子(まいご)になった飼い猫(ねこ)を血眼になって探(さが)している I’m frantically looking for my lost cat.Read More