Yomi やまやま Rōmaji yamayama Type idiom Literal Meaning mountains Meaning I’m very keen (but…); I wish I could Additional Info Usually, it’s used as …したいのは{山々ですが or 山々だけど} when you’re very keen to do something (i.e. you have a “mountain” of eagerness to do something) but you can’t (e.g. you already have a plan). It’s also used when you just want to decline an invitation in a polite way. It is common to write it in hiragana やまやま or katakana ヤマヤマ as well. Example 行(い)きたいのは山々ですが、その日はもう予定(よてい)があって… I wish I could go, but I have a plan for the day already…Read More

Yomi たいきばんせい Rōmaji taiki bansei Type idiom Literal Meaning a large vessel/container is completed late Meaning Some people develop their talents and become successful/bloom later than others Synonym 遅咲き Additional Info In a sentence, it is usually used as 大器晩成型がた, meaning “a kind of a late bloomer”. Example 占いによると、私は大器晩成型らしい According to fortune telling, I’m a kind of a late bloomer, it seems.Read More

Yomi おやのすねをかじる Rōmaji oya no sune o kajiru Type idiom Literal Meaning to gnaw on the shin of one’s parents Meaning to rely on one’s parents financially Additional Info While it’s often used in a disapproving way, some people say it’s not a bad thing at all, insisting “親の脛はかじれるだけかじれ” (Gnaw on your parents’ shins as much as possible). かじる is 齧る in kanji but it’s not commonly used. Example 無職になったので、今は親の脛をかじって生活している。 Because I’ve lost my job, now I’m relying on my parents financially to live.Read More

Yomi うしろがみをひかれる Rōmaji ushirogami o hikareru Type idiom Literal Meaning the back of one’s hair is pulled Meaning leave a place with a bit of hesitation and one’s lingering attachment to it Synonym 未練がある, 名残惜しい Additional Info It describes the feelings you have when you leave a place knowing you’re gonna miss it and feeling as if your back hair is pulled by it. Usually, it is used as “後ろ髪を引かれる思い”. Example 後ろ髪を引かれる思いで、留学先から帰国した。I returned home from where I studied abroad while feeling attached to it.Read More

Yomi あっというま Rōmaji atto iu ma Type idiom Literal Meaning While saying あ Meaning the blink of an eye; a very short time; time flies Synonym すぐ Additional Info This idiom is so common that many Japanese people use it without paying attention to its literal meaning (like “of course” in English). 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”) Example あっという間に雨が止んだ。 It stopped raining in the blink of an eye. 高校生活は楽しくてあっという間だった My high-school life was so much fun and time flew like an arrow.Read More