Waku Waku Japanese – Lesson 32: Idioms

 Have you ever wondered if there are expressions like "A piece of cake!" in Japanese? In this lesson of Waku Waku Japanese, Erin introduces some Japanese idioms that have figurative meanings that are different from their literal meanings.

(To bend one’s belly button) To be upset – Heso o mageru
へそをまげる／臍を曲げる

(To cloud one’s tea) To do something halfheartedly – Ocha o nigosu
おちゃをにごす／お茶をにごす

(To sell oil) To fool around and not do work – Abura o uru
あぶらをうる／油を売る

(To have a high nose) To be proud – Hana ga takai
はながたかい／鼻が高い

(To have a wide face) To have many friends – Kao ga hiroi/ Kao ga kiku
かおがひろい、かおがきく／顔が広い、顔がきく
It works – Kiku
きく／利く
The sake is strong, it does it’s job – Sake ga kiku
さけがきく／酒が利く

(A hand comes out of one’s throat) To strongly desire of something – Nodo kara te ga deru
のどからてがでる／喉から手が出る

Proverbs – Kotowaza
ことわざ／諺
Proverbs with Ancient Chinese origins – Kojiseigo
こじせいご／故事成語
Unnecessary – Dasoku
だそく／蛇足
Moralizing message – Kyoukun
きょうくん／教訓

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