On this page
Japanese idioms can be vivid and memorable. Some below are four-character compounds; others are proverbs or everyday expressions. Here are their readings, literal images and practical meanings.
In this article, you will be able to speak and explain these funny idioms to your Japanese friends.
Juu Nin To Iro (じゅうにんといろ)
十人十色（じゅうにんといろ）, jūnin toiro: “ten people, ten colors.” People have different preferences and personalities; roughly “different strokes for different folks.”
Although it does seem quite vague, it has the same meaning as the English language’s “Different Strokes for Different Folks”. It means that every person, has their own color, and what may work for them, may not work for some.
Saru mo ki kara ochiru (さるもきからおちる)
猿も木から落ちる（さるもきからおちる）, saru mo ki kara ochiru: “even monkeys fall from trees.” Even an expert can make a mistake.
This means that “Nobody is perfect”.
Jaku niku kyou shoku (じゃくにくきょうしょく)
弱肉強食（じゃくにくきょうしょく）, jakuniku kyōshoku: “the weak are meat; the strong eat.” It describes the strong preying on or dominating the weak. “Survival of the fittest” is a loose comparison, not its exact meaning in evolutionary biology.
This one basically means “survival of the fittest” wherein, the weak will be food for the strong.
Nana korobi ya oki (ななころびやおき)
七転び八起き（ななころびやおき）, nanakorobi yaoki: “fall seven times, rise eight.” Keep trying after setbacks.
Esha jouri (えしゃじょうり)
会者定離（えしゃじょうり）, esha jōri: those who meet must eventually part. The Buddhist expression points to the impermanence of encounters.
Ki shi kai sei (きしかいせい)
起死回生（きしかいせい）, kishi kaisei: literally restoring life from the brink of death. Figuratively, it means rescuing a desperate situation or making a dramatic recovery; it does not simply mean becoming wiser.
It talks about turning bad situations (death) and getting stronger or wiser after.
Ichi go Ichi e (いちごいちえ)
一期一会（いちごいちえ）, ichigo ichie: treasure an encounter as a unique, unrepeatable occasion. It is associated with the tea ceremony and is not simply the equivalent of “YOLO.”
Aku in Akka (あくいんあっか)
悪因悪果（あくいんあっか）, akuin akka: a bad cause produces a bad result. It expresses the consequences of harmful actions.
Me ga katai (めがかたい)
目が堅い（めがかたい）, me ga katai: to remain awake or not become sleepy easily. It is not about physically hard or dry eyes.
Well, it’s none of the above. It simply means that you are still not sleepy, and therefore the eyes are “hard”.
Hana ga Takai (はながたかい)
鼻が高い（はながたかい）, hana ga takai: literally “one’s nose is high.” Figuratively, it means to feel proud of an achievement or someone close to you; it can also describe a high nose literally.
In the same way, when we are proud about something, we usually raise our noses because we are proud.
Conclusion
Learn an idiom together with a situation where it fits. The literal image can help you remember it, while its conventional meaning tells you how to use it.
What about you? Do you know any Japanese idioms that you can add here? Share it with us in the comments!
