FOUR IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

電光石火 (でんこうせっか)    

As fast as lightning.

因果応報 (いんがおおほう)

Bad causes, bad results.

This emphasizes the Buddhist philosophy of karmic retribution. The English equivalent is “what goes around comes around.”

自業自得(じごうじとく)

One’s act/one’s profit.                                                              

This is like the English “you reap what you sow.”

十人十色(じゅうにんといろ)

Ten people, ten colors.                                                           

This is just like “to each his own.”

 

起死回生(きしかいせい)

Wake from death and turn to life.                              

Optimistic and generally used to encourage others to turn a bad situation into a success, it really highlights how terrible it can feel to be in that bad situation.

花鳥風月(かちょうふうげつ)

Flower, bird, wind, moon                                                      

Concisely expresses the beauty of nature by listing the kanji for “flower, bird, wind, moon.”

一日一歩(いちにちいっぽ)

One day one step                                          

This Japanese idiom encourages us to take one step a day toward our goals.

 

温故知新(おんこちしん)

Review past, know future                           

This is to look back at the past and learn from it, and to take that knowledge into the future. It’s a little bit similar to our English, “history repeats itself,” as it implies that your knowledge of the past will help you know what can happen in future situations.

 

異体同心(いたいどうしん)

Two bodies, one heart

 

口が滑る(くちがすべる)

A slip of the mouth.                                    

This is just like the English idiom “the cat’s out of the bag” or “spill the beans,” as it means to let out a secret.

猫に小判(ねこにこばん)

Like gold coins to a cat                                

This is like the English “casting pearls before swine,” but uses “like gold coins to a cat” to express the folly of wasting beauty or quality on somebody who doesn’t appreciate it.

見ぬが花(みぬがはな)

Not seeing is a flower.                                                          

This another gorgeous Japanese idiom, meaning that reality can’t compete with imagination.

晴耕雨読(せいこううどく)

Living in quiet retirement dividing time between work and intellectual pursuits”

切磋琢磨(せっさたくま)

Cultivate one’s mind by studying hard.

粉骨砕身(ふんこつさいしん)

Work oneself to the bone

 GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

 

1. ～でしょう・だろう　[ PROBABLY ]

 

(接続)せつぞく:

VERB PLAIN

い　ADJECTIVE

な　ADJECTIVE           でしょう・たろう

NOUN

 

ポイント:

A.  ～でしょう　[ PROBABLY ]

It is used when the speaker wants to express an opinion about something in the future or something uncertain, without being definite.

 

(例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  明日は雨が降るでしょう。

It will probably rain tomorrow.

 

2.  あの人はフィリピン人だろう。

That person is probably a Filipino.

 

3.  その仕事は日曜日までにできない

      でしょう。

The work will probably not be completed until Sunday.

 

B.  ～でしょう。[ISN’T IT, RIGHT? ]

 If you want to expres your feeling strongly about a supposition, you can raise the intonation at the end of the でしょう, as if you were asking a question aggressively. The end of the word can get cut off so it sounds closer to でしょ。

 

(例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  これはあなたものでしょう。

This is yours right?

 

2.  このケーキはおいしいでしょう。

This cake is tasty, right?

 

3.  フィリピンはあついでしょう。

The Philippines is hot, isn’t it?

 

 

C.  ―　でしょうか。

     [ POLITE WAY TO ASK QUESTION ]

 

Even if an assumption isn’t made, this is used as polite question. でしょうかis more polite to ask a question than ですか.

 

(例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  こちらはおきゃくさんの荷物

      でしょうか。

Is this your luggage, Sir?

 

2.  しつれいします、はいってもよろしい

      でしょうか。

Excuse me, May I come in?

 

3.  日本の食べ物はおいしいでしょうか。

Is Japanese food delicious?

 

2.   ～かもしれません　

     [ PERHAPS; MAYBE ]

 

(接続)せつぞく:

 VERB PLAIN

い　ADJECTIVE

な　ADJECTIVE              かもしれません

NOUN

 

ポイント:

 This is used when the speaker wants to point out that there is a possibility. It is used when the speaker cannot say something for certain but positivelydefinitely exist.  the plain form  is かもしれない。

 

(例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  明日のピクニックはつまらない

     かもしれません

Tomorrow’s picnic maybe boring.

 

2.  電車に間に合わないかもしれません。

I may not catch the train.

 

3.  あの人のおくさんはフィリピン

      かもしれません。

That man’s wife might be Filipino.

 

4.  これは山田さんの本かもしれません。

This might be Mr. Yamada’s book.

 

 

3. ―　はず　[ SUPPOSED; OUGHT ]

 

(接続)せつぞく:

           

 VERB PLAIN

 い　ADJECTIVE

 な　ADJECTIVE –な　　　　　はず

         NOUN　－　の

 

ポイント:

It indicates speaker’s strong expectation or belief based onreliable information or knowledge. the statement may or may not be true, but it is expected to be true. It cannot be used for the speaker’s own action.

 

( 例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  おとうさんがそろそろ家に

     変えるはずです。

Father is supposed to be returning home right now.

 

2.  サラさんは子供の時から英語を

      習っているので英語はかんたんな　

  　はずです。

Sara has been studying English since child so English is supposed to be easy for her.

 

3.  ミラーさんは今日来るでしょうか。

Will Mr. Miller come today, right?

…来るですよ。昨日電話がありましたから。

He supposed to come. he called yesterday.

 

 4.  ―　らしい　[ seems; looks like ]

 

(接続)せつぞく:

 

VERB PLAIN

 い　ADJECTIVE

 な　ADJECTIVE                 らしい

 NOUN

 

ポイント:

It expresses the speaker’s conjecture based on what the speaker has heard or read.

 

(例文)れいぶん:

 

1.  駅の前にデパートがたてるらしいです。

It seems a department store will be built in front of the station.

 

2.  田中さんのお母さんは病気らしいです。

It seems Mr. Tanaka’s mother is ill.

 

3.  彼が買ったバイクは高かったらしいです。

It looks like the motorcycle that he bought is expensive.