Key Idioms and Expressions in English and Japanese
主な熟語と慣用表現
Bite the bullet
Meaning: facing a difficult situation with courage
Japanese: 困難に立ち向かう (konnan ni tachimukau)
Example: She decided to bite the bullet and confront her boss about the issue.
彼女は困難に立ち向かい、上司に問題を対峙することにした。
Break a leg
Meaning: good luck, especially before a performance
Japanese: 成功を祈る (seikou o inoru)
Example: Break a leg at your show tonight!
今夜の公演、成功を祈るよ!
Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: staying up late working on something
Japanese: 夜遅くまで働く (yoru osoku made hataraku)
Example: "She burned the midnight oil to finish her report on time."
彼女は時間通りにレポートを仕上げるために夜遅くまで働いた。
Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: asking someone why they are not speaking
Japanese: どうしたの? (dou shita no?)
Example: You’ve been so quiet today, cat got your tongue?
今日は静かだね、どうしたの?
Congratulations.
Meaning: Used to express praise for an achievement
Japanese: おめでとうございます (omedetou gozaimasu)
Example: Congratulations on your promotion!
昇進おめでとうございます!
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: dealing with a problem when it actually arises
Japanese: その時が来たら対処する (sono toki ga kitara taisho suru)
Example: We don’t need to worry about that now; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
今は心配しなくていい、その時が来たら対処しよう。
Do not outshine your superiors
Meaning: avoid surpassing or drawing more attention to yourself than your superiors
Japanese: 上司より目立たないようにする (joushi yori medatanai you ni suru)
Example: In the workplace, it's wise to perform well but do not outshine your superiors to maintain harmony.
職場では、うまくやるのは賢明ですが、調和を保つために上司より目立たないようにしましょう。
Do not upstage your boss
Meaning: avoid drawing attention away from your boss or making them look less important
Japanese: 上司の影を薄くしない (joushi no kage o usuku shinai)
Example: When presenting in a meeting, do not upstage your boss with too many flashy details.
会議でプレゼンテーションをする際には、派手な詳細で上司の影を薄くしないように。
Excuse me.
Meaning: Used to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor offense
Japanese: すみません (sumimasen)
Example: Excuse me, could you pass the salt?
すみません、塩を取っていただけますか?
Go the extra mile
Meaning: making a special effort beyond what is expected
Japanese: さらに努力する (sara ni doryoku suru)
Example: He always goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
彼はいつも顧客満足のためにさらに努力する。
Good morning.
Meaning: A greeting used in the morning
Japanese: おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu)
Example: Good morning, everyone!
皆さん、おはようございます!
Happy birthday.
Meaning: A greeting to wish someone a happy birthday
Japanese: お誕生日おめでとう (otanjoubi omedetou)
Example: Happy birthday! I hope you have a great day.
お誕生日おめでとう!素晴らしい一日を過ごしてね。
How are you?
Meaning: Used to inquire about someone's well-being
Japanese: 元気ですか? (genki desu ka?)
Example: Hi, John! How are you?
こんにちは、ジョン!元気ですか?
I love you.
Meaning: Used to express deep affection for someone
Japanese: 愛してる (aishiteru)
Example: I love you, Mom.
お母さん、愛してる。
It’s a small world
Meaning: expressing surprise at encountering someone unexpectedly or finding a surprising connection
Japanese: 世間は狭い (seken wa semai)
Example: I can't believe you know him too. It's a small world!
君も彼を知っているなんて、世間は狭いね!
Keep your nose clean
Meaning: staying out of trouble
Japanese: 問題を避ける (mondai o sakeru)
Example: If you want to keep your job, you'd better keep your nose clean.
仕事を続けたいなら、問題を避けたほうがいい。
Kick the bucket
Meaning: to die
Japanese: 亡くなる (nakunaru)
Example: He kicked the bucket last night.
彼は昨夜亡くなった。
Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: making every possible effort to achieve something
Japanese: 徹底的に調べる (tetteiteki ni shiraberu)
Example: We need to leave no stone unturned in our search for the missing document.
失われた書類を探すために徹底的に調べる必要がある。
Leave someone in the lurch
Meaning: abandoning someone in a difficult situation
Japanese: 困難な状況で見捨てる (konnan na joukyou de misuteru)
Example: You can't just leave her in the lurch; she needs your help.
彼女を困難な状況で見捨てることはできない、助けが必要だ。
Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: forgetting past offenses or conflicts
Japanese: 過去のことは水に流そう (kako no koto wa mizu ni nagasou)
Example: We had our differences, but let's let bygones be bygones and move forward.
意見の違いはあったけれど、過去のことは水に流して前に進もう。
Make sure all i's are dotted and all t's are crossed
Meaning: paying attention to every detail and ensuring everything is done correctly
Japanese: 細部にまで注意をする (saibu ni made chuui o suru)
Example: Before submitting your report, make sure all i's are dotted and all t's are crossed.
レポートを提出する前に、細部にまで注意を払ってください。
Mind your P's and Q's
Meaning: being careful about what you say and how you behave
Japanese: 言動に気をつける (gendou ni ki o tsukeru)
Example: When meeting with the CEO, make sure to mind your P's and Q's.
CEOとの会議では、言動に気をつけてください。
Play second fiddle
Meaning: being in a subordinate position to someone else
Japanese: 二番手になる (nibante ni naru)
Example: He was tired of always playing second fiddle to his more famous brother.
彼はいつも有名な兄に二番手になるのにうんざりしていた。
Please help me.
Meaning: A request for assistance
Japanese: 助けてください (tasukete kudasai)
Example: Please help me with this project.
このプロジェクトを手伝ってください。
Roll with the punches
Meaning: adapting to difficult circumstances
Japanese: 困難に適応する (konnan ni tekiou suru)
Example: Life can be tough, but you have to learn to roll with the punches.
人生は厳しいこともあるが、困難に適応することを学ばなければならない。
See you later.
Meaning: A way to say goodbye, indicating you will see the person again
Japanese: また後で (mata ato de)
Example: I have to go now. See you later!
もう行かなきゃ。また後で!
Steal someone's thunder
Meaning: taking attention or praise away from someone else
Japanese: 人の功績を奪う (hito no kouseki o ubau)
Example: He stole my thunder by announcing his promotion just before I shared my good news.
彼は私が良いニュースを伝える直前に昇進を発表して、私の功績を奪った。
Take care.
Meaning: A way to say goodbye, wishing someone well
Japanese: お元気で (ogenki de)
Example: Take care and see you soon!
お元気で、またお会いしましょう!
Take the plunge
Meaning: deciding to do something significant or risky
Japanese: 思い切ってやる (omoikitte yaru)
Example: They finally took the plunge and started their own business.
彼らはついに思い切って自分のビジネスを始めた。
Thank you.
Meaning: Used to express gratitude
Japanese: ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)
Example: Thank you for your help.
ご協力ありがとうございます。