1.
iceberg
A large mass of ice that has broken off from a glacier and floats in the sea. Also used figuratively in the expression 'tip of the iceberg.'
氷山の一角にすぎない。
It is only the tip of the iceberg.
大きな氷山が海に浮かんでいた。
A large iceberg was floating in the sea.
この問題は氷山の一角で、実際にはもっと深刻な状況だ。
This problem is just the tip of the iceberg — the actual situation is much more serious.
USAGE:
Most commonly encountered in the set phrase 氷山の一角 (the tip of the iceberg), meaning that what is visible represents only a small portion of a larger problem or situation. This expression parallels the English idiom exactly.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 氷山の一角 (tip of the iceberg)
- 氷山が浮かぶ (an iceberg floats)
- 氷山にぶつかる (to collide with an iceberg)