Gomasuri - (meaning) ingratiating oneself, apple-polishing, overtly flattering, toadying, sucking up to one's superiors.
(explanation) When a person makes an overtly ingratiating remark, he or she is "grinding sesame seeds." Others call attention to the gomasuri either by saying the word, by (nonverbally) making motions with the fist over the palm of the other hand (simulating the grinding of roasted sesame seeds with a pestle and mortar), or by doing both. Like the messy sesame seeds ground up in the mortar, the person seeking favor is sticking to everthig(one).
Hana ni Arashi (meaning) Life often brings misfortune at the time of great happiness. (explanation)This fatalistic insight is a shortened version of tsuki ni muragumo, hana ni arashi, which is literally translated, "Clouds over the moon, storm over blossoms." It often seems that misfortune looms behind even the happiest moments.
Hana yori Dango(meaning) The practical is preferred over the aesthetic. (explanation) Every spring on the day of "flower viewing", Japanese traditionally travel to the countryside or visit parks to appreciate the beauty of nature. Yet human nature being what it is, people seem to show considerably more interest in the food than in the flowers.
Iwanu ga Hana (meaning) Some things are better left unsaid; silence is golden. (explanation) Since one can never really "take back" what one says, there is a high premuim on thinking things through before opening one's mouth. Much harm and nonsense can result from ill-chosen words. Thus the philosophical ovservation that "Not waying is the flower"
Korogaru Ishi ni Koke Musazu(meaning) Perseverance pays off; patience is a virtue. (explanation) For the Japanese, moss is something to be admired. Associated with beauty, moss grows on rocks and in pathways of old temples in places like Kyoyo. Yet the stone that continues to tumble will never have moss. So this expression is often used to admonish others to stay put, to continue on in the same job. Ironically, this expression is also used by some Japanese to mean the very opposite, i.e., the meaning understood by Americans: keep moving or you'll get old.
Minoru hodo Atama no Sagaru Inaho Kana (meaning) Maturity brings humility and respect for others. (explanation) When rice is mature and reasy to harvest, the heaviness at the top of the plant pulls it down low to the ground. Japasese see this as anologous to how the wisdom of years fills a man with humility and causes his head to bow heavily in his deep respect for life and nature.
Nemawashi(meaning) informally securing prior approval, checking with everyone who counts before formal presentation, covering all the bases (explanation) Nemawashi now is used worldwide to characterize the consensus-building nature of Japanses business practices. Literally, nemawashi means cutting off excess roots and wrapping the remaining roots with a straw mat for protection when transplanting the tree. In bussiness terms it means an informal solicitation of agreement before formal submission of approval at a meeting.
Ne mo Ha mo Nai (meaning) groundless, unsubstantiated (explanation)Roots give support to a tree much as facts give support to claims and allegations . Leaves validate the health of a tree, proving its life and vitality. With neithere support (roots) nor evidence (leaves), the (tree) allegation cannot stand.
Sakura (meaning) a shill, a plant, a confederate
Sanshoo wa Kotsubu de mo [Piririto] Karai (meaning) small but powerful, a mughty mire, a person of ability although small in size
Takane no Hana (meaning) unrealizable desire, an unobtainable object, something out of one's reach
Take o watta Yoo (meaning) honest, frank, decisive, a straight shooter
Uri Futatsu (meaning) two peas in a pod, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, frick and frack
Yoraba Taiju no Kage (meaning) Choose secure and solid protection.
Ame ga Furoo to Yari ga Furoo to (meaning) no matter what, under any circumstances
Ame Futte Ji Katamaru (meaning) Adversity builds character; the more challenges successfully met, the stronger one or a relationship becomes.
Kaze no Tayori (meaning) a rumor, a story without source
Kumo o Tsukamu Yoo (meaning) wishful thinking, impossible dream
Mizu ni Nagasu (meaning) to forgive and forget, to let bygones be bygones
Mizu no Awa (meaning) all for nothing, effort in vain
Mizu o Utta Yoo (meaning) so quiet you could hear a pin drop, dead silence
Mizu Shoobai (meaning) entertainment bussiness, a chancy trade
Yakeishi ni Mizu (meaning) a drop in the bucket, completely ineffective
Ashimoto kara Tori ga Tatsu (meaning) an unexpected departure, a surprise, a sudden happening
Hane o Nobasu (meaning) to cut loose, to get rid of inhibition
Karite Kita Neko no Yoo (meaning) as shy and quiet as a kitten
Neko mo Shakushi mo (meaning) everybody and his/her mother [brother]
Neko ni Koban (meaning) pearls before swine
Neko no Hitai (meaning) extremely small in size
Neko no Te mo Karitai (meaning) swamped,
shorthanded, "up to one's eyeballs" in work
Onaji Ana no Mujina (meaning) co-conspirations, brothers in crime
Suzume no Namida (meaning) very small amount, a tad
Tasu Tori Ato o Nigosazu (meaning) Leave on a good note; create a good impression when leaving for good.
Tsuru no Hitokoe (meaning) voice of authority, unchallengeable order
Uma no Hone (meaning) an unknown person with no references, a person of unknown background
Gomame no Hagishiri (meaning) of no consequence, powerless
Hachi no Su o Tsutsuita Yoo (meaning) bedlam, chaotic, frenzied
Hippari Dako (meaning) Mr./Mrs./Ms. Popularity, a person in great demand, being pulled in all directions
I no Naka no Kawazu [Taikai o Shirazu] (meaning) a provincial, one who has never seen the world
Ka no Naku Yoona Koe (meaning) a faint, almost inaudible voice
Manaita no Ue no Koi (meaning) doomed, in the hands of God, at the mercy of fate
Mushi no Iki (meaning) near one's death, almost dead
Nakitsura ni Hachi (meaning) When it rains, it pours; bad things come in threes.
Saba o Yomu (meaning) to manipulate the figures to one's advantage, to offer false numbers intentionally, to inflate or deflate figures
Tate Kuu Mushi mo Sukizuki (meaning) There is no accounting for tastes; some prefer nettles.
Abata mo Ekubo (meaning) Love in blind
Agura o Kaku (meaning) to rest on one's laurels, to coast, to be complacent
Ashimoto o Miru(meaning) to exploit someone's weakness in negotiation, to charge what the traffic will bear
Ashi o Arau (meaning) to start over [after discarding a bad situation], to go stright
Atama ga Sagaru (meaning) to take off one's hat to another, to acknowledge the exceptional effort of others
Awaseru Kao ga Nai (meaning) to be ashamed, not knowing how to face someone
Haragei (meaning) intuitive decision making, going on a gut feeling, negotiating without the use of direct words
Ishin Denshin (meaning) reading each other's heart or mind; wordless, yet deep understanding between two [close] people
Kao ga Hiroi (meaning) to be widely known, to have a large circle of acquaintances, to have many contacts
Katami ga Semai (meaning) a feeling of inferiority or inadequacy
Koshi ga Hikui (meaning) very polite, modest or humble
Mimi ga Itai (meaning)an acknowledgment that someone's criticism of oneself is correct; an indication of a prick of conscience, as if saying "you found me out".
Ryooyaku Kuchi ni Nigashi (meaning) Good advice is often unpleasant and difficult to accept
Shinzoo ga Tsuyoi (meaning) having nerve or gall, impervious to subtleties
Shiroi Me de Miru (meaning) to look coldly upon, to cast an unwelcoming glance
Tsura no Kawa ga Atsui (meaning) uncommonly rude, having too much nerve, inconsiderate by nature
Ude o Migaku (meaning)to work at mastering one's craft, to improve and cultivate one's skill
Ushirogami o Hikareru Omoi (meaning) a feeling of much reluctance, a feeling of leaving one's heart behind
Ushiroyubi o Sasareru Yoo (meaning) being the object of social contempt, scorn, and criticism.
Chiri mo Tsumoreba Yama to Naru (meaning) Little things add up; "Mountains are made from grains of sane." Small efforts, when accumulated, bring grat success
Happoo Bijin (meaning) one who tries to please everyone, one who seeks popularity at the expense of integrity
Hito Hata Ageru (meaning) to succeed in business, particularly one's own enterprise
Hitori Zumoo o Toru (meaning) to try hard at something without the support of others
Ishi no Ue ni mo Sannen (meaning) perseverence wins in the end; endurance is a virtue.
Juunin Toiro (meaning) different strokes for different folks; everyone has his or her own taste; "to each his own"
Nimaijita o Tsukau (meaning) to speak from both sides of the mouth, to speak with a forked tongue
Ni no Ashi o Fumu (meaning) to hesitate, to have second thoughts before taking an action
Onna Sannin Yoreba Kashimashii (meaning) Women tend to talk a lot.
Sannin Yoreba Monju no Chie (meaning) two heades are better than one
Sushizume (meaning) very crowded, jam-packed
Ana ga attara Hairitai (meaning) "I'm so ashamed"; "I could've died of embarrassment."
Ishibashi o Tataite Wataru (meaning) to proceed with caution, to test the waters before jumping in
Kusawake (meaning) pooneering, innovation, original thinking
Onobori-san (meaning) country bumpkin, hick, hayseed, someone from the sticks
Sumeba Miyako (meaning) Wherever one lives, one comes to love it.
Watari ni Fune (meaning) timely assistance, something that saves the day
Asameshi Mae (meaning) a piece of cake, an easy task
Baka wa Shinanakya Naoranai (meaning) Once a fool, always a fool.
Chan-Pon (meaning) a combination of ingredients [often that don't mix well], a medley of elements
Deru Kui wa Utareru (meaning) Excellence is shot down by mediocrity; doing better than others evokes jealousy; difference is forced into conformity.
Hakoiri Musume (meaning) an innocent girl of a good family, an overprotected daughter
Juubako no Sumi o [Yooji de] Tsutsuku (meaning) to be obsessively oriented toward inconsequential details, to dwell on
minutiae, (meaning) to split hairs
Kataboo o Katsugu (meaning)to take part in, to hold up one's end of the operation, to have a hand in
Kooin Ya no Gotoshi (meaning)Time flies; time and tide wait for no man
Koshikake (meaning) a stepping stone for something better, for the next stage
Kusai Mono ni wa Futa o Suru (meaning) to opt for short-term solutions, to [temporarily] push aside and ignore problems
Madogiwa Zoku (meaning) people who have been promoted beyond function, people who have been "kicked upstairs"
Noren ni Udeoshi (meaning) a useless and complestely ineffectice action, a wasted effort
Onaji Kama no Meshi o Kutta (meaning) having shared a common experience, having been through a log together
Saji o Nageru (meaning) to give up in despair, to throw in the towel
Sashimi no Tsuma (meaning) insignificant participant, uninfluential presence
Sode no Shita (meaning) Under the table, off the books, bribery
Suna o Kamu Yoo (meaning) dull, unhappy, and wearisome [life]
Taikoban o Osu (meaning) to vouch enthusiastically for a person, to recommend highly, virtually to guarantee a person's success
Yuushuu no Bi o Kazaru (meaning) to achieve something great just before the end [of one's career], to end with a flourish, to go out with a bang
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