Words tagged “expression”

ああah, oh ああああthat way, like that; oh, ah 愛想笑(あいそうわら)いあいそうわらいforced smile; polite smile; social smile 阿吽(あうん)の呼吸(こきゅう)あうんのこきゅうperfect synchronization; unspoken understanding 敢(あ)えてあえてdaringly, purposely, deliberately あかんあかんno good; must not (Kansai dialect) 悪戦苦闘(あくせんくとう)あくせんくとうdesperate struggle; hard fight 朝飯前(あさめしまえ)あさめしまえa piece of cake, cinch 足(あし)を引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)るあしをひっぱるto hold back, to drag down 頭(あたま)が固(かた)いあたまがかたいstubborn, inflexible, rigid in thinking 当(あ)てがないあてがないto have no prospect; have nothing to go on 後(あと)であとでafter, later あのあのthat (over there, before noun) あのさあのさhey, you know, listen あのねあのねyou know あのーあのーum, excuse me, well 飴(あめ)と鞭(むち)あめとむちcarrot and stick; reward and punishment ありえないありえないimpossible, unbelievable, no way 有難迷惑(ありがためいわく)ありがためいわくunwelcome favor; misguided kindness; more of a nuisance than a help 暗礁(あんしょう)に乗(の)り上(あ)げるあんしょうにのりあげるto hit a snag; to reach a deadlock 案(あん)の定(じょう)あんのじょうsure enough; as expected いいえいいえno, not at all いいねいいねlike (social media), sounds good いいやんいいやんit's fine; that's okay; no problem (Kansai) いかなるいかなるwhat kind of; whatever; any; no matter what 息(いき)を潜(ひそ)めるいきをひそめるto hold one's breath; to lie low; to keep quiet いくら何(なん)でもいくらなんでもno matter how; even so; there's a limit イケてるいけてるcool, stylish 以心伝心(いしんでんしん)いしんでんしんtacit understanding, telepathy いただきますいただきますexpression before eating 一期一会(いちごいちえ)いちごいちえonce-in-a-lifetime encounter 一抹(いちまつ)いちまつa touch; a tinge; a trace; a hint 一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)いちもくりょうぜんobvious at a glance 一攫千金(いっかくせんきん)いっかくせんきんmaking a fortune at a stroke; striking it rich 一寸先(いっすんさき)は闇(やみ)いっすんさきはやみthe future is unpredictable; you never know what lies ahead 一線(いっせん)を画(かく)すいっせんをかくすto draw a line; to clearly distinguish いっそのこといっそのことmight as well; rather; if anything 一致団結(いっちだんけつ)いっちだんけつsolidarity; unity; standing united 一長一短(いっちょういったん)いっちょういったんpros and cons 行(い)ってきますいってきますI'm leaving 行(い)ってらっしゃいいってらっしゃいsee you later, take care 一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん)いっとうりょうだんcutting in two with one stroke; decisive action 一歩(いっぽ)ずついっぽずつstep by step; one step at a time 一歩(いっぽ)も引(ひ)かないいっぽもひかないto not back down an inch; to not give any ground 井(い)の中(なか)の蛙(かわず)いのなかのかわずa frog in a well; someone with a narrow worldview 威風堂々(いふうどうどう)いふうどうどうmajestic; grand; dignified; imposing 否(いや)いやno, nay 薄笑(うすわら)いうすわらいsmirk; faint smile うっそうっそno way!, you're kidding!, seriously? 腕(うで)を振(ふ)るううでをふるうto show one's skill; to demonstrate one's ability; to display one's talents 腕(うで)を磨(みが)くうでをみがくto hone one's skills; to improve one's abilities; to polish one's craft 唸(うな)り声(ごえ)うなりごえgroan; growl; roar 馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念仏(ねんぶつ)うまのみみにねんぶつpreaching to deaf ears; wasted effort on someone who won't listen 裏目(うらめ)うらめbackfire; opposite of what was intended; bad outcome 瓜(うり)二(ふた)つうりふたつspitting image; very much alike うんうんyeah, uh-huh 影響(えいきょう)を及(およ)ぼすえいきょうをおよぼすto exert an influence; to have an effect on ええええyes, yeah ええとええとwell...; let me see...; um...; uh... ええなあええなあnice; lucky you; sounds good (Kansai dialect) ええやんええやんit's good; that's fine (Kansai dialect) えーとえーとum, let me see, well 恐(おそ)れ入(い)りますおそれいりますI'm sorry to trouble you; thank you very much (humble) 恐(おそ)れ入(い)るおそれいるto be obliged; to be sorry; much obliged オッケーおっけーOK; all right; fine 鬼(おに)に金棒(かなぼう)おににかなぼうmaking the strong even stronger; like giving a demon an iron club お願(ねが)いしますおねがいしますplease 汚名(おめい)返上(へんじょう)おめいへんじょうclearing one's name; redeeming oneself お召(め)し上(あ)がりおめしあがりplease help yourself; please eat/drink (honorific) おめでとうおめでとうcongratulations 思(おも)いを馳(は)せるおもいをはせるto think longingly of; to let one's thoughts turn to 折(おり)しもおりしもjust then; at that very moment; as it happened 恩(おん)に着(き)るおんにきるto feel grateful; to be indebted; to appreciate a favor

顔(かお)が広(ひろ)いかおがひろいwell-connected, having many acquaintances 花鳥風月(かちょうふうげつ)かちょうふうげつbeauties of nature; the beauty of the natural world 可能(かのう)であればかのうであればif possible 構(かま)わないかまわないdo not mind; it doesn't matter; it's okay かもしれないかもしれないmight; perhaps; maybe 蚊帳(かや)の外(そと)かやのそとbeing left out; being excluded 緩急(かんきゅう)かんきゅうslow and fast; modulation; emergency 乾杯(かんぱい)かんぱいcheers!, toast 画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい)がりょうてんせいfinishing touch; final flourish 頑張(がんば)ってがんばってgood luck, do your best 気(き)が重(おも)いきがおもいdepressed, reluctant, heavy-hearted 気(き)が散(ち)るきがちるdistracted, unable to focus 気(き)が晴(は)れるきがはれるto feel refreshed; to feel better; to cheer up 九死(きゅうし)に一生(いっしょう)きゅうしにいっしょうnarrow escape from death 興味津々(きょうみしんしん)きょうみしんしんvery interested; full of curiosity 気(き)をつけてきをつけてtake care, be careful 金魚鉢(きんぎょばち)きんぎょばちgoldfish bowl; (figuratively) a setting where one is constantly observed 疑心暗鬼(ぎしんあんき)ぎしんあんきsuspicion breeds monsters 御意(ぎょい)ぎょいas you wish; your will; understood (archaic/formal) 苦笑(くしょう)くしょうwry smile; bitter smile; forced laugh 口(くち)が堅(かた)いくちがかたいtight-lipped, discreet 口(くち)が軽(かる)いくちがかるいloose-lipped, indiscreet 唇(くちびる)を噛(か)むくちびるをかむto bite one's lip (in frustration or regret) 首(くび)を振(ふ)るくびをふるto shake one's head 結局(けっきょく)のところけっきょくのところin the end; after all is said and done 犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか)けんえんのなかlike cats and dogs; bitter enemies 公私混同(こうしこんどう)こうしこんどうmixing public and private matters 心(こころ)が広(ひろ)いこころがひろいbroad-minded; generous; tolerant 心(こころ)なしかこころなしかsomehow; it seems like; perhaps 心(こころ)に響(ひび)くこころにひびくto strike a chord; to resonate deeply; to be deeply moving 腰(こし)が低(ひく)いこしがひくいhumble, modest, unassuming 故障中(こしょうちゅう)こしょうちゅうout of order 混(こ)んでいるこんでいるto be crowded, to be congested ごまをするごまをするto butter up; to flatter; to suck up 御免(ごめん)ごめんsorry, pardon, excuse me ごめんなさいごめんなさいI'm sorry ご容赦(ようしゃ)ごようしゃpardon; forgiveness; understanding

最後(さいご)にはさいごにはin the end, at the end, ultimately 差(さ)し支(つか)えなければさしつかえなければif you don't mind; if it's not a problem 沙汰止(さたや)みさたやみbeing dropped; coming to nothing; falling through 茶飯事(さはんじ)さはんじeveryday occurrence; commonplace matter 三者三様(さんしゃさんよう)さんしゃさんようeach to their own; everyone is different 座右(ざゆう)の銘(めい)ざゆうのめいpersonal motto; favorite maxim 強(し)いてしいてforcibly; compulsorily; if pressed; if I must say しかたがないしかたがないit can't be helped; there's no choice 四苦八苦(しくはっく)しくはっくstruggling, suffering 私情(しじょう)を交(まじ)えるしじょうをまじえるto let personal feelings interfere 舌先(したさき)したさきtip of the tongue; glib talk したっけしたっけwell then; bye (Hokkaido dialect) 舌(した)を巻(ま)くしたをまくto be amazed; to be astonished; to be left speechless 失笑(しっしょう)しっしょうinvoluntary laugh; burst of laughter (at something ridiculous) 締(し)めくくりしめくくりconclusion; final touch; wrapping up 四面楚歌(しめんそか)しめんそかsurrounded by enemies; completely isolated しょうがないしょうがないit can't be helped; there's no way 使用中(しようちゅう)しようちゅうin use, occupied 知(し)らんけどしらんけどI don't know though; just saying 尻(しり)すぼみしりすぼみfizzling out; tailing off; petering out 尻拭(しりぬぐ)いしりぬぐいcleaning up someone else's mess 自業自得(じごうじとく)じごうじとくreap what you sow 実(じつ)はじつはactually, to tell the truth じゃじゃwell, well then じゃあじゃあwell, well then じゃあねじゃあねsee you; bye (casual) 十人十色(じゅうにんといろ)じゅうにんといろto each their own 重箱(じゅうばこ)の隅(すみ)をつつくじゅうばこのすみをつつくto nitpick; to split hairs; to find fault with trivial details 渋面(じゅうめん)じゅうめんgrimace; sour face; frown 準備万端(じゅんびばんたん)じゅんびばんたんfully prepared; all set; everything in readiness 盛者必衰(じょうしゃひっすい)じょうしゃひっすいthe prosperous must decline; all glory is fleeting 冗談(じょうだん)じょうだんjoke, jest 空(す)いているすいているto be empty, to be vacant 姿(すがた)を現(あらわ)すすがたをあらわすto appear; to show oneself 救(すく)いの手(て)すくいのてhelping hand; rescue; lifeline 青天霹靂(せいてんへきれき)せいてんへきれきbolt from the blue; sudden shock せやせやthat's right (Kansai dialect) 僭越(せんえつ)せんえつpresumptuous; impertinent; overstepping one's bounds 先方様(せんぽうさま)せんぽうさまthe other party (honorific); the other side 絶対(ぜったい)にぜったいにabsolutely; definitely; positively 是非(ぜひ)ともぜひともby all means, at any cost 全身全霊(ぜんしんぜんれい)ぜんしんぜんれいwith all one's heart and soul; wholeheartedly そういえばそういえばspeaking of which; come to think of it; that reminds me そうそうそうそうyeah yeah, that's right そうですそうですI hear that, it seems that; that's right そうは言(い)ってもそうはいってもhaving said that; even so; that said そこまでそこまでthat far; to that extent; that much そのものそのものitself; the very thing; in itself そのーそのーum; er; well (hesitation filler) 空涙(そらなみだ)そらなみだcrocodile tears, fake tears それじゃそれじゃwell then; in that case それじゃあそれじゃあwell then; in that case; see you それなそれなI know right!, exactly!, so true それはそうとそれはそうとby the way; that aside; changing the subject

太鼓判(たいこばん)たいこばんseal of approval; guarantee 大(たい)したことないたいしたことないnot a big deal; nothing special; not serious 宝(たから)の持(も)ち腐(ぐさ)れたからのもちぐされwasted talent or possession 高笑(たかわら)いたかわらいloud laugh; guffaw 多事多難(たじたなん)たじたなんfull of troubles; eventful; turbulent 立入禁止(たちいりきんし)たちいりきんしno entry, keep out 棚(たな)から牡丹餅(ぼたもち)たなからぼたもちunexpected good fortune, windfall 他力本願(たりきほんがん)たりきほんがんrelying on others; dependence on others 大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)だいたんふてきbold and fearless; dauntless; audacious 駄目元(だめもと)だめもとnothing to lose; worth a try だよねだよねright?, isn't it?, I know 違(ちが)いないちがいないno doubt, must be, certain ちくしょうちくしょうdamn it!; damn! ちょうだいちょうだいplease give me (casual) 陳謝(ちんしゃ)ちんしゃapology; expression of regret ついでについでにwhile at it, incidentally, on the way 作(つく)り笑(わら)いつくりわらいfake smile; forced smile 付(つ)け焼(や)き刃(ば)つけやきばsuperficial knowledge; hastily acquired skill; slapdash preparation 謹(つつし)んでつつしんでrespectfully; humbly; sincerely 連(つ)れてつれてas, with, along with 手(て)が離(はな)せないてがはなせないtoo busy, unable to leave (what one is doing) てことはてことはso that means, in other words 照(て)れ笑(わら)いてれわらいembarrassed smile; bashful laugh 手(て)を打(う)つてをうつto take measures; to strike a deal; to clap hands 手(て)を染(そ)めるてをそめるto start (an activity); to get involved in; to engage in 手(て)を抜(ぬ)くてをぬくto cut corners, to slack off できればできればif possible でしょでしょright?, see?, I told you so でもさでもさbut you know, but like ということでということでso then, with that said, and so 頓珍漢(とんちんかん)とんちんかんnonsensical; irrelevant; off the mark とんでもないとんでもないoutrageous, no way どうかどうかplease, somehow どうしようどうしようwhat should I do どうしようもないどうしようもないhelpless; hopeless; unavoidable どうにかどうにかsomehow; one way or another; barely どうにもどうにもcannot do anything about; by no means; at all どうもどうもthanks, hi; somehow; very どないやねんどないやねんwhat's up with that; how is it (Kansai dialect) どん底(ぞこ)どんぞこrock bottom; the depths どんぶり勘定(かんじょう)どんぶりかんじょうsloppy accounting; rough estimate of expenses

なきゃなきゃhave to; must (casual) 情(なさ)けは人(ひと)の為(ため)ならずなさけはひとのためならずkindness is not for others' sake alone; what goes around comes around 何(なに)かとなにかとone way or another; in various ways; frequently 何(なに)が何(なん)でもなにがなんでもno matter what; by all means 何食(なにく)わぬ顔(かお)なにくわぬかおinnocent look; feigning ignorance; nonchalant expression 何々(なになに)なになにwhat; such and such 何分(なにぶん)なにぶんin any case; after all 何(なに)やらなにやらsomething or other; somehow; for some reason 何(なに)はともあれなにわともあれanyway; at any rate; first of all なまらなまらvery; extremely (Hokkaido dialect) なんだかんだなんだかんだone way or another; all in all; when all is said and done 何(なん)だってなんだってwhat?!; what did you say?; you don't say! なんだよなんだよwhat the heck; come on; so what なんていうかなんていうかhow should I put it; what can I say 何(なん)でもなんでもanything; everything なんでやねんなんでやねんwhat the heck; why (Kansai dialect tsukkomi) 何(なん)とかなるなんとかなるit'll work out somehow 何(なん)としてもなんとしてもno matter what; at all costs; by any means 何(なん)となくなんとなくsomehow; vaguely; for some reason に関(かん)してにかんしてregarding; concerning; about 苦笑(にがわら)いにがわらいbitter smile; wry smile; forced smile に際(さい)してにさいしてon the occasion of; at the time of 二足(にそく)のわらじにそくのわらじwearing two hats; having two jobs or roles 〜についてについてabout, concerning, regarding 二転三転(にてんさんてん)にてんさんてんchanging repeatedly; constant shifting にとってにとってfor (someone), to (someone) によってによってby (means of), depending on 〜によるとによるとaccording to 二律背反(にりつはいはん)にりつはいはんantinomy; contradiction ねえねえhey, right?, isn't it ねえねえねえねえhey, hey hey, listen 念(ねん)のためねんのためjust in case; to be safe 能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)を隠(かく)すのうあるたかはつめをかくすstill waters run deep; a wise hawk hides its talons

はいはいyes, here (in response) はい、どうぞはいどうぞhere you are; please go ahead; yes, certainly 白日(はくじつ)の下(もと)に晒(さら)すはくじつのもとにさらすto bring to light; expose to public view 初(はじ)めましてはじめましてnice to meet you 果(は)たしてはたしてas expected; really (rhetorical) 鼻(はな)で笑(わら)うはなでわらうto sneer; to scoff; to sniff at 花(はな)より団子(だんご)はなよりだんごsubstance over style 羽目(はめ)を外(はず)すはめをはずすto go overboard; to cut loose; to get carried away 腹(はら)が立(た)つはらがたつto get angry, to be irritated 腹(はら)を括(くく)るはらをくくるto brace oneself; to prepare for the worst 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう)はらんばんじょうeventful, turbulent 半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)はんしんはんぎhalf in doubt; skeptical; not fully convinced 場合(ばあい)によってはばあいによってはdepending on the case; in some cases; possibly 馬耳東風(ばじとうふう)ばじとうふうin one ear and out the other; paying no attention ばってんばってんbut; however (Kyushu dialect) 万歳(ばんざい)ばんざいbanzai, hurray 万事休(ばんじきゅう)すばんじきゅうすall is lost; it's all over; nothing more can be done ひいてはひいてはand eventually, by extension, furthermore 火(ひ)の用心(ようじん)ひのようじんbeware of fire; fire safety; fire prevention 百獣(ひゃくじゅう)の王(おう)ひゃくじゅうのおうking of beasts 百歩譲(ひゃっぽゆず)ってひゃっぽゆずってeven if we concede the point ひょっとするとひょっとするとperhaps; possibly; maybe 火(ひ)を見(み)るより明(あき)らかひをみるよりあきらかplain as day; obvious beyond doubt; crystal clear 微笑(びしょう)びしょうsmile; gentle smile 描写(びょうしゃ)びょうしゃdescription; depiction ぴえんぴえんsad; crying; boo-hoo 不覚(ふかく)にもふかくにもunwittingly; inadvertently; to one's chagrin 含(ふく)み笑(わら)いふくみわらいsmothered laugh; suppressed smile; smirk 二(ふた)つ返事(へんじ)ふたつへんじready consent; immediate agreement 振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)るふりだしにもどるto go back to square one; to start over from scratch べらぼうべらぼうridiculously; absurdly (Edo dialect origin) 骨折(ほねお)りほねおりhard work; trouble; pains; effort ほらほらlook, see, you know, there ほんとほんとreally; truly; truth (casual) ポカンとぽかんとblankly; absent-mindedly; gaping

まあまあwell; my!; so-so 前(まえ)にまえにbefore, in front of 誠(まこと)にまことにtruly; sincerely; most (formal) まじかまじかseriously?, for real?, no way まじでまじでseriously; really; for real またねまたねsee you later; bye 魔法(まほう)の杖(つえ)まほうのつえmagic wand 満員御礼(まんいんおんれい)まんいんおんれいsold out; full house (with thanks to the audience) 満面(まんめん)の笑(え)みまんめんのえみa beaming smile; a broad smile across one's whole face みたいなみたいなlike; such as; something like 身(み)につけるみにつけるto acquire, to learn, to wear 身(み)の丈(たけ)に合(あ)うみのたけにあうto be within one's means; to suit one's station 耳(みみ)を傾(かたむ)けるみみをかたむけるto listen carefully, to lend an ear 昔々(むかしむかし)むかしむかしonce upon a time; long, long ago 胸(むね)に刺(さ)さるむねにささるto hit home; to strike a chord; to pierce one's heart 目(め)が離(はな)せないめがはなせないcan't take one's eyes off, captivating 滅相(めっそう)もないめっそうもないdon't be absurd; that's out of the question 目(め)を奪(うば)われるめをうばわれるto be captivated by; to be mesmerized; to be unable to look away 目(め)を通(とお)すめをとおすto look through, to skim, to glance over 目(め)を丸(まる)くするめをまるくするto be wide-eyed (with surprise); to stare in amazement もしかしたらもしかしたらperhaps; maybe; possibly 物腰(ものごし)が柔(やわ)らかいものごしがやわらかいsoft-spoken; mild-mannered; gentle in demeanor 問題(もんだい)をはらむもんだいをはらむto be fraught with problems; to harbor latent issues

やむを得(え)ないやむをえないunavoidable; inevitable; cannot be helped 有終(ゆうしゅう)の美(び)ゆうしゅうのびfinishing beautifully; ending on a high note; crowning glory 悠々自適(ゆうゆうじてき)ゆうゆうじてきliving a life of leisure; carefree retirement よかよかgood (Kyushu dialect) 横(よこ)になるよこになるto lie down よしよしalright!, okay!, right! よっしゃよっしゃyes!, alright!, all right!

竜頭蛇尾(りゅうとうだび)りゅうとうだびanticlimax; strong start, weak finish

脇目(わきめ)も振(ふ)らずわきめもふらずwithout looking aside; single-mindedly; with total focus わざわざわざわざon purpose, expressly, going out of one's way わやわやmess; hopeless (Kansai dialect) 我(われ)を忘(わす)れるわれをわすれるto lose oneself; to forget oneself; to be beside oneself わろたわろたLOL; laughed (internet slang) を対象(たいしょう)にをたいしょうにaimed at; targeting; intended for をもってをもってwith; by means of; as of