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Master Japanese Idioms Through Anime

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身から出た錆

mi kara deta sabi

Facing the consequences of one's own past actions

虎の尾を踏む

tora no o wo fumu

Taking an incredibly dangerous risk

猫をかぶる

neko wo kaburu

To feign innocence; hiding one's true nature behind a cute/quiet facade

化けの皮が剥がれる

bake no kawa ga hagareru

For one's disguise or malicious true nature to be exposed

折り紙付き

origami-tsuki

Certified or guaranteed to be of high quality/skill

一筋縄ではいかない

hitosujinawa dewa ikanai

Not easily dealt with by ordinary means; tricky or stubborn

二の足を踏む

ni-no-ashi wo fumu

To hesitate; to be reluctant to take the next step

高嶺の花

takane no hana

Something/someone admired from afar but unattainable

腹が据わる

hara ga suwaru

To be unshakable; to be prepared for the worst; having guts

腹を割る

hara wo waru

To speak heart-to-heart; to be completely honest

目に物見せる

me ni mono miseru

To teach someone a hard lesson; to show them what's what (usually through revenge or overwhelming power)

白い目で見る

shiroi me de miru

To look at someone with coldness, disdain, or disapproval

目が点になる

me ga ten ni naru

Shocked or surprised

目に入れても痛くない

me ni irete mo itakunai

Doting on someone

目は口ほどに物を言う

me wa kuchi hodo ni mono wo iu

Tsundere eyes vs. words

鼻が高い

hana ga takai

Pride

鼻につく

hana ni tsuku

Annoying arrogance

口を割る

kuchi wo waru

Confessing in interrogation

口が滑る

kuchi ga suberu

Slip of the tongue

耳を疑う

mimi wo utagai

Disbelief

耳にたこができる

mimi ni tako ga dekiru

Sick of a lecture

眉をひそめる

mayu wo hisomeru

Cool disapproval

眉唾物

mayu tsubamono

Shady/Suspicious

後ろ髪を引かれる

ushiro kami wo hikareru

Emotional regret

怒髪天をつく

do hatsu ten wo tsuku

Extreme fury

首を長くする

kubi wo nagaku suru

Waiting with anticipation

首が寒い

kubi ga samui

Fearing punishment/loss of job

手が付けられない

te ga tsukerarena

Unstoppable/Berserk

手を焼く

te wo yaku

Hard to manage

腕が鳴る

ude ga naru

Itching for a fight

腕が鈍る

ude ga nibiru

Getting rusty

足を引っ張る

ashi wo hipparu

Being a burden to the team

足元を見る

ashimoto wo miru

Exploiting weakness

足元をすくわれる

ashimoto wo sukuwareru

Unexpectedly tripped up

捕らぬ狸の皮算用

toranu tanuki no kawasanyo

Counting chickens before they hatch

窮鼠猫を噛む

kyuuso neko wo kamu

Desperation breeds courage

馬の耳に念仏

uma no mimi ni nenbutsu

In one ear, out the other

同じ穴の狢

onaji ana no mujina

Birds of a feather

虎の巻

tora no maki

Secret manual or guide

棚からぼた餅

tana kara botamochi

Unexpected fortune

花より団子

hana yori dango

Practicality over beauty

腐っても鯛

kusatte mo tai

Quality endures

味噌をつける

miso wo tsukeru

Ruin or spoil

煮え湯を飲まされる

nieyu wo nomasareru

Betrayed or hurt

茶茶を入れる

chacha wo ireru

Interrupt or interfere

折紙付き

origami tsuki

Guaranteed quality

しのぎを削る

shinogi wo kezuru

Compete fiercely

急がば回れ

isogaba maware

Slow and steady wins the race

元の鞘に収まる

moto no saya ni osamaru

Reconciliation

急場を凌ぐ

kyuuba wo shinogou

Tide over crisis

太鼓判を押す

taiko ban wo osu

Give full approval

猫をかぶる

neko wo kabuру

Disguise true nature

兜を脱ぐ

kabuto wo nugu

Admit defeat

濡れ衣を着せられる

nureginu wo kiserareru

False accusation

ボロが出る

boro ga deru

True nature revealed

高嶺の花

takane no hana

Unattainable person

清水の舞台から飛び降りる

kiyomizu no butai kara tobiori

Take a big risk

対岸の火事

taigan no kaji

Not my problem

Found a phrase in the wild?

Did you hear an idiom in a recent episode that we missed? Or did a character use one of these phrases in an epic way? Share your screenshots and discoveries with other fans!

Deepen Your Knowledge

Essential Idiom Dictionaries & Resources

📚

Manga Guide to Japanese Idioms

Manga Guide to Japanese Idioms

Perfect for visual learners. Learn idioms through manga-style illustrations and examples.

📖

Standard Japanese-English Idiom Dictionary

Standard Japanese-English Idiom Dictionary

For serious scholars. Comprehensive reference with detailed explanations and usage examples.

🎌

Cultural Idioms in Anime

Cultural Idioms in Anime

Understand the 'Why' behind the words. Learn cultural context and nuances through anime examples.

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