Flattering, sycophancy, fawning
The act of 'grinding sesame' makes noise and gets your hands sticky, serving as a metaphor for incessant flattery to win over superiors. This idiom refers to behaviors of praising and currying favor to please those in power or higher positions.
โ Used to satirize people who flatter others at work or in daily life.
่ฑใซๅต
[hana ni arashi]
Flowers meet the storm โ beauty is often fleeting
No matter how brilliantly flowers bloom, a single storm can make everything disappear. This idiom reminds us that the good and bright things in life โ like love, youth, or moments of happiness โ can be unexpectedly interrupted.
โ Used when expressing regret over a beautiful relationship that has just ended, or a joy that was cut short.
่ฑใใใ ใใ
[hana yori dango]
Dango over flowers โ valuing practicality over appearance
Instead of appreciating the beauty of flowers, people choose dango โ which is both delicious and practical. This saying mocks those who do not care about art or outward appearance, but only focus on practical benefits.
โ Commonly used when someone is mainly interested in eating at flower-viewing parties or festivals.
่๏ผใฎๅญ๏ผใๆดใใใ
[imo no ko o arau yล]
Packed like washing potatoes โ cramped and crowded
The image of many potatoes mixed together when being washed in a basin of water describes a crowd so dense that you can't move.
โ Used to talk about situations where places are jam-packed with people, such as on trains, at tourist attractions, or festivals.
่จใใฌใ่ฑ
[iwanu ga hana]
Not speaking is beautiful โ silence is better than words.
Beauty sometimes lies in ambiguity. This idiom implies that some things are better left unsaid, as clumsy words can ruin subtlety or cause harm.
โ Used to advise someone to remain silent rather than being 'overly honest.'
่ปขใใ็ณใซ่ใใใ
[korogaru ishi ni koke musazu]
A rolling stone gathers no moss โ constant movement prevents stagnation.
A stationary stone will be covered with moss, while a rolling stone always stays clean. This proverb praises the spirit of continuous movement and change to avoid confinement and backwardness.
โ Often used to encourage changing jobs, environments, or taking on new challenges.
ๅฎใใปใฉ้ ญใฎไธใใ็จฒ็ฉใใช
[minoru hodo kลbe no sagaru inaho kana]
The heavier the rice ear, the more it bows โ the more talented you are, the more humble you should be.
A rice ear bends under the weight of its grains โ just like truly virtuous and talented people are always humble.
โ This is a teaching, compliment, or life philosophy often used in education and corporate culture.
ๆ นๅใ
[nemawashi]
Root care โ paving the way before taking action
Originally used in gardening: handling the roots before replanting. Later, it figuratively means 'preparing in advance, probing and persuading beforehand' so that everything goes smoothly.
โ Used in Japanese work environments to refer to 'making sure everything is prepared in advance.'
ๆ นใ่ใใชใ
[ne mo ha mo nai]
No roots, no leaves โ baseless rumor
The image of a tree without roots or leaves represents something that cannot exist. This idiom is used to refer to unfounded rumors with no factual basis.
โ Used when you want to deny groundless information.
ใใใ
[sakura]
cherry blossom โ a background person, decoy in a performance
Originally, ใใใ (sakura) referred to someone hired to sit in the audience, applaud, or pretend to buy goods to attract others. Figuratively, it refers to someone who 'creates hype' at an event or in sales.
โ Used to describe the role of making a crowd seem lively or creating a fake effect.
ๅฑฑๆคใฏๅฐ็ฒใงใใดใใใจ่พใ
[sanshล wa kotsubu demo piriri to karai]
Japanese pepper may be small but it's fiercely spicy โ small but mighty.
Japanese pepper (ๅฑฑๆค) is small but has a strong spicy flavor. This idiom praises people who may be young, small in stature, or in a low position, but possess outstanding abilities and should not be underestimated.
โ Used to compliment those who are modest in appearance or status but have remarkable influence or talent.
้ซๅถบใฎ่ฑ
[takane no hana]
Flower on the mountaintop โ beautiful but out of reach
A stunning flower grows on the high mountaintop, no matter how beautiful it is, it cannot be picked. This idiom refers to people or things that are too ideal or lofty, making others only able to admire them but never attain them.
โ Used to describe a beautiful person or an ideal object that is unattainable.
็ซนใๅฒใฃใใใ
[take o watta yล]
Splitting bamboo โ straightforward, clear
When splitting bamboo, the split is straight and neat. This idiom is used to describe someone who is honest, speaks clearly, and does not beat around the bush or hide things.
โ Used to refer to a person who is honest, frank, and trustworthy.
็ไบใค
[uri futatsu]
two melons โ exactly alike
Two melons have such similar shapes and sizes that they cannot be distinguished. This idiom is used to describe two people whose faces, appearances, or behaviors are so similar that it's surprising, as if they are copies of each other.
โ Used when commenting that two people look or act exactly the same.
ๅฏใใฐๅคงๆจนใฎ้ฐ
[yoraba taiju no kage]
If you rely on something, rely on a big tree โ seek support from someone powerful.
The shade under a big tree is cooler and safer โ this proverb advises that if you are looking for support, you should choose a strong and stable place.
โ Used to describe the act of joining, befriending, or depending on someone with power or authority.
้จใ้ใใใจๆงใ้ใใใจ
[ame ga furล to yari ga furล to]
Rain or spears may fall โ yet unchanged
Extreme imagery: whether it rains or spears fall, one remains unshaken. This idiom expresses steadfast willpower, not swayed by circumstances.
โ Used to show determination, even in difficult or dangerous situations.
