japanese_club_m.htm - index_idioms.htm

U:\Data\Japanese\Akiyama N., Akiyama C. - Japanese idioms - 1996.pdf

	(Menu) Japanese Idioms
1	Japanese Idioms A (1)
油	abura [a-bu-ra] oil
油が切れる	abura ga kireru to be exhausted "Oil runs out."
油が切れそうなので、バカンスが必要です。	Abura ga kiresoo nanode, bakansu ga hitsuyo desu. I need a vacation because I'm just about exhausted.
油をしぼる	abura wo shiboru to take someone to task, to criticize, to reprimand "to squeeze oil"
顧客に連絡するのを忘れて、課長に油をしぼられました。	Kokyaku ni renraku suru no wo wasurete, kachoo ni abura wo shiboraremashita. Because I forgot to get in touch with the client, I was taken to task by the section chief.
油を注ぐ	abura wo sosogu to fuel，to inflame "to pour oil"
その新聞の記事は、彼の怒りに油を注ぎました。	Sono shinbun no kiji wa，kare no ikari ni abura wo sosogimashita. That newspaper article fueled his anger.
油を売る	abura wo uru to goof off, to loaf (particularly on the job) "to sell oil"
あの人は仕事をするより、油を売るのが得意です。	Ano hito wa shigoto o suru yori, abura wo uru no ga tokui desu. He's better at goofing off than working.
脂	abura [a-bu-ra] fat
脂がのる	abura ga noru to be in one's prime "to increase in fat content"
あの歌手は、最近脂がのってきました。	Ano kashu wa，saikin abura ga notte kimashita. That singer has recently come into her prime.
2
顎	ago [a-go] chin, jaw
顎で使う	ago de tsukau to order someone around "to use someone with one's chin"
彼は人を顎で使うので、彼が好きな人はあまりいません。	Kare wa hito wo ago de tsukau node, kare ga suki na hito wa amari imasen. Because he orders everyone around, not many people like him.
顎が外れる	ago ga hazureru to die laughing "One's jaw gets dislocated."
彼女の話があまり面白いので、顎が外れるほど笑いました。	Kanojo no hanashi ga amari omoshiroi node, ago ga hazureru hodo waraimashita. Her story was so funny that I almost died laughing.
顎が干上がる	ago ga hiagaru to suffer from loss of income "One's jaw dries up."
遊んでばかりいると、そのうち顎が干上がってしまいますよ。	Asonde bakari iru to, sono uchi ago ga hiagatte shimaimasu yo. If you keep playing around, you won't be able to pay your bills.
顎を出す	ago wo dasu to get exhausted "to stick one's chin out"
久しぶりに運動したので、すぐに顎を出してしまいました。	Hisashiburi ni undoo shita node, sugu ni ago wo dashite shimaimashita. Because I exercised for the first time in ages, I got exhausted fast.
顎をなでる	ago wo naderu to pride oneself on something "to stroke one's own chin"
彼はテニスの試合に勝って、顎をなでていました。	Kare wa tenisu no shiai ni katte, ago wo nadete imashita. He prided himself on winning the tennis match.
愛	ai [ai] love
愛の結晶	ai no kesshoo child, children "the crystallization of love"
あの夫婦に、先月愛の結晶が生まれました	Ano fuufu ni, sengetsu ai no kesshoo ga umaremashita. That couple had a baby last month.
愛の巣	ai no su the home of a newlywed couple "a love nest"
新婚の太郎と花子は、京都に愛の巣を構えました。	Shinkon no Taroo to Hanako wa, Kyoto ni ai no su wo kamaemashita. The newlyweds Taro and Hanako set up their new home in Kyoto.
3
味	aji [a-ji] taste
味も素気もない	aji mo sokke mo nai curt "no taste, no warmth"
親切に聞いてあげたのに、その女性は味も素気もない返事をしました。	Shinsetsu ni kiite ageta noni, sono josei wa aji mo sokke mo nai henji o shimashita. I offered to help her, but she gave me a curt reply.
味なことをやる	aji na koto wo yaru to act smart "to do something of taste"
パーティーでギターを弾くなんて、彼もなかなか味なことをやるね。	Paatii de gitaa wo hiku nante, kare mo nakanaka aji na koto wo yaru ne. How smart of him to play the guitar during the party!
味を占める	aji wo shimeru to get a taste of something "to occupy taste"
一度の成功に味を占めて、彼は相変わらず同じ事をしています。	Ichido no seikoo ni aji o shimete, kare wa aikawarazu onaji koto wo shite imasu. After tasting success once, he’s still doing the same old thing.
味を知る	aji wo shiru to experience something "to get to know the taste"
一度贅沢の味を知ると、元に戻るのは容易ではありません。	Ichido zeitaku no aji wo shiru to, moto ni modoru no wa yooi dewa arimasen. When you experience luxury once, it's not easy to go back to your old lifestyle.
4
赤	aka [a-ka] red
赤の他人	aka no tanin total stranger "a red stranger"
赤の他人に、そんな話をしてはいけません。	Aka no tanin ni, sonna hanashi wo shite wa ikemasen. Don't tell such a story to a total stranger.
赤恥	akahaji utter shame, total disgrace "red shame"
この間は会議に出ることを忘れて、赤恥をかきました。	Kono aida wa kaigi ni deru koto wo wasurete, akahaji wo kakimashita. The other day, I totally disgraced myself by forgetting to attend the meeting.
赤信号が付く	akashingoo ga tsuku to become precarious "A red light comes on."
社長が病気になって、会社の運営に赤信号が付きました。	Shachoo ga byooki ni natte, kaisha no un'ei ni akashingoo ga tsukimashita. With the president's illness, the management of the company has become precarious.
垢	aka grime
垢抜けしない	akanuke shinai unpolished, crude "grime not coming off"
あの人は都会に来て十年たつのに、まだ垢抜けしていません。	Ano hito wa tokai ni kite juu nen tatsu noni, mada akanuke shite imasen. Although it's been 10 years since he came to the city, he's still not urbane.
垢抜けした	akanuke shita polished, refined "grime off"
彼女は、いつも垢抜けした服装をしています。	Kanojo wa, itsumo akanuke shita fukusoo wo shite imasu. She always wears sophisticated clothes.
5
証し	akashi proof
身の証しを立てる	mi no akashi wo tateru to prove one's innocence "to make proof stand up"
汚職をマスコミに非難された政治家は、身の証を立てるために弁護士を雇いましんこ。	Oshoku o masukomi ni hinan sareta seijika wa, mi no akashi wo tateru tame ni bengoshi wo yatoimashita. When the media accused him of corruption, the politician hired a lawyer to prove his innocence.
秋	aki [a-ki] autumn, fall
秋の空	aki no sora to be fickle (of love) "autumn sky"
彼は、彼女の秋の空のような心に悩みました。	Kare wa, kanojo no aki no sora no yoo na kokoro ni nayamimashita. He was hurt by her fickleness.
秋風が立つ	akikaze ga tatsu to cool mutually (of love) "Autumn breeze begins to blow."
半年もたたない内に、二人の間に秋風が立ち始めました。	Hantoshi mo tatanai uchi ni, futari no aida ni akikaze ga tachihajimemashita. Their love began to cool in less than a half year.
天	ama heaven, sky
天下り	amakudari senior government official landing a high position in the private sector "to descend from heaven"
彼は政府を定年退職した後、天下りで銀行の社長になりま しんこ。	Kare wa seifu wo teinen taishoku shita ato, amakudari de ginkoo no shachoo ni narimashita. He landed a position as a bank president after retiring from the government.
天の邪鬼	amanojaku perverse person "a devil in heaven"
彼は天の邪鬼だから、人の助言に従いません。	Kare wa amanojaku dakara, hito no jogen ni shita ga imasen. He is perverse and doesn't follow other people's advice
6
甘い	amai [a-mai] sweet
甘い言葉に乗る	amai kotoba ni noru to believe sweet talk "to ride on sweet words"
彼女は彼の甘い言葉に乗って、結婚してしまいました。	Kanojo wa kare no amai kotoba ni notte, kekkon shite shimaimashita. Unfortunately, she married him believing his sweet talk.
甘い汁を吸つ	amai shiru wo suu to benefit oneself by exploiting others "to suck sweet juice"
あの人は周りの人から甘い汁を吸って、金持ちになりました。	Ano hito wa mawari no hito kara amai shiru o sutte, kanemochi ni narimashita. He became rich by exploiting people around him.
甘く考える	amaku kangaeru to take things too easy "to consider things sweetly"
物理の試験は甘く考えていたために、成績はあまり良くありませんでした。	Butsuri no shiken wa amaku kangaete ita tame ni, seiseki wa amari yoku arimasen deshita. Since I didn't take the physics exam seriously, my grade wasn't that good.
甘く見る	amaku miru to take someone lightly "to view a person sweetly"
相手を甘く見たため、交渉はうまくいきませんでした。	Aite wo amaku mita tame, kooshoo wa umaku ikimasen deshita. The negotiations failed because I took my counterpart too lightly.
甘党	amatoo to have a sweet tooth "a partisan of something sweet"
彼は甘党で、特にチョコレートに目がありません。	Kare wa amatoo de, toku ni chokoreeto ni me ga arimasen. He has a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate.
7
雨	ame [a-me]
雨が降ろうが槍が降ろうが	ame ga furoo ga yari ga furoo ga no matter what "even if it rains or spears shower down"
雨が降ろうが槍が降ろうが、計画は実行します。	Ame ga furoo ga yari ga furoo ga, keikaku jikkoo shimasu. No matter what happens, I'll carry out the plan.
雨女/雨男	ame onna/ame otoko woman/man who brings rain wherever she/he goes "a rain woman/ a rain man"
彼女は雨女なので、誘うと危ないです。	Kanojo wa ame onna nanode, sasou to abunai desu. It's risky to invite her’ because she brings rain wherever she goes.
雨露をしのぐ生活	ame tsuyu wo shinogu seikatsu poverty "living by sheltering oneself from the rain and dew"
あの作家は成功する前、雨露をしのぐ生活を経験しました。	Ano sakka wa seikoo suru mae, ame tsuyu wo shinogu seikatsu wo keiken snimashita. That novelist experienced poverty before he became successful.
網	ami [a-mi] net
網の目をくぐる	ami no me wo kuguru to evade the law "to pass through the mesh of a net"
彼は、網の目をくぐって象牙を輸入しました。	Karewa, ami no me wo kugutte zooge wo yunyuu shimashita. He evaded the law and imported ivory.
網を張る	ami wo haru to set up a dragnet "to stretch a net"
警察は誘拐の容疑者を捕らえようと、全国に網を張りました。	Keisatsu wa yuukai no yoogisha wo toraeyoo to, zenkoku ni ami wo harimashita. The police set up a nationwide dragnet for the kidnapping suspect.
8
穴	ana [a-na] hole, cavern
穴が5あつたら入りたい	ana ga attara hairitai to be ashamed, to be humiliated "to want to crawl into a hole if there is one"
みんなの前で大失敗して、穴があったら入りたい気持ちで した。	Minna no mae de daishippai shite, ana ga attara hairitai kimochi deshita. When I made a mistake in front of everybody, I was so ashamed.
穴のあくほど見つめる	ana no aku hodo mitsumeru to stare at someone or something "to look at something to the extent that a hole will open up"
その絵のあまりの見事さに、穴のあくほど見つめずにはい られませんでした。	Sono e no amari no migotosa ni, ana no aku hodo mitsumezu ni wa iraremasen deshita. The painting was so fantastic that I couldn't stop staring at it.
穴をあける	ana wo akeru to cause a deficit "to dig a hole"
今月は買い物をしすぎて、家計に穴をあけてしまいました。	Kongetsu wa kaimono wo shisugite, kakei ni ana wo akete shimaimashita. I made a hole in the family budget this month because I shopped too much.
穴場	anaba great secret spot, little-known good place
あそこに釣りに行くなら、穴場を教えてあげましよう。	Asoko ni tsun ni iku nara, anaba wo oshiete agemashoo. If you go fishing there, I'll tell you a great secret spot.
穴埋めをする	anaume wo suru to make up a loss, filling in gaps "to fill in a hole"
政府は財政赤字の穴埋めをするために、増税しなければな りませんでした。	Seifu wa zaisei akaji no anaume wo suru tame ni, zoozei shinakereba narimasen deshita. To make up the financial deficit, the government had to raise taxes.
塩梅	anbai condition; manner; flavor; state
いい塩梅に	ii anbai ni fortunately "with good salt and plums"
雨が降ってきたら、いい塩梅にタクシー-が来ました。	Ame ga futte kitara, ii anbai ni takushii ga kimashita. Fortunately, a taxi came by when it started to rain.
9
安楽	anraku comfort
安楽死	anraku shi euthanasia "death for comfort"
その患者は苦しみに耐えかねて、安楽死を求めました。	Sono kanja wa kurushimi ni taekanete, anraku shi wo motomemashita. The patient couldn't bear the pain and asked for euthanasia.
暗礁	anshoo [an-shoo] submerged reef, sunken rock
暗礁に乗り上げる	ansho ni noriageru to hit a snag "to run aground on a submerged reef"
その計画が暗礁に乗り上げることは、最初から分かっていました。	Sono keikaku ga anshoo ni noriageru koto wa, saisho kara wakatte imashita. I knew all along that the plan would hit a snag.
青	ao [a-o] blue, green
青息吐息	aoiki toiki to be suffering; deep distress "sighing with blue breath"
不景気のため、どの店も青息吐息です。	Fukeiki no tame, dono mise mo aoiki toiki desu. All the stores are suffering because of the recession.
青写真	aojashin blueprint "a blue photograph"
今度のプロジェクトのための青写真を作りました。	Kondo no purojekuto no tame no aojashin wo tsukurimashita. I made a blueprint for the upcoming project.
青臭い	aokusai inexperienced "green-smelling"
あんな青臭い人に、この企画は任せられません。	Anna aokusai hito ni, kono kikaku wa makaseraremasen. We can't trust someone so inexperienced with this project.
青二才	aonisai greenhorn "a green two-year-old"
あの男は青二才のくせに、ず いぶん生意気なことをいいます。	Ano otoko wa aonisai no kuse ni, zuibun namaiki na koto wo iimasu. Although he's just a greenhorn, he says such arrogant things.
青筋を立てる	aosuji wo tateru to become enraged "to show blue veins"
そんなつまらなぃことに青筋を立てるなよ。	Sonna tsumaranai koto ni, aosuji wo tateruna yo. Don't become enraged over something so trivial.
青田買い	aotagai to contract to employ college students prematurely "to buy green rice-fields", wholesale purchases of rice
青田買いは禁じられていますが、それはなかなか無くなり ません。	Aotagai wa kinjirarete imasu ga, sore wa nakanaka nakunarimasen. Although the premature hiring of college students is forbidden, it doesn't go away easily.