In Japanese, idiomatic phrases are called ‘慣用語’ or kanyougo. They are often used by native speakers during conversations.

Idioms add flavor to a language. They are simple phrases or expressions which might not make sense literally, but have ‘figurative meanings’. It is difficult to grasp the nuance of an idiomatic expression unless you are sure about its meaning.

Today we are going to learn 30 useful Japanese idiomatic phrases or 慣用語 kanyougo, which are associated with parts of the body.

 

足 Ashi or Legs

足が棒になる Ashi ga bou ni naru

Lit. – Legs becoming sticks

Meaning – Legs becoming stiff due to tiredness

Example: 彼は、足が棒になるまで走り続けた。Kare wa, ashi ga bō ni naru made hashiri tsudzuketa. —-> He kept running till his legs got stiff.

 

足が出る Ashi ga deru

Lit. – Legs sticking out

Meaning – To go beyond the budget

Example: 旅行では予算より足が出てた。Ryokō de wa yosan yori ashi ga deta. —-> We spent more than our budget, during the vacation.

 

足が引っ張る Ashi wo hipparu

Lit. – To drag someone’s leg

Meaning – To drag someone down

Example: 彼がチームの足を引っ張る。Kare ga chīmu no ashi wo hipparu. —-> He drags the whole team down.

 

 

頭 Atama or Head

頭が古い Atama ga furui

Lit. – Head is old

Meaning – Old fashioned

Example: 姉は頭が古いです。Ane wa atama ga furui desu. —-> My elder sister is old fashioned.

 

頭が低い Atama ga hikui

Lit. – Head is short

Meaning – To be humble

Example: 吉田さんは課長になっても頭が低いです。Yoshida-san wa kachō ni natte mo atama ga hikui desu. —-> Even though Miss Yoshida has become the manager, she is still humble.

 

頭が固い Atama ga kataii

Lit. – Head is hard

Meaning –  To be inflexible

Example:お父さんは頭が固くていつも自分の思い通りにする。Otōsan wa atama ga katakute itsumo jibun no omoidōri ni suru. —-> My father is inflexible and always does things his own way.

 

頭に来る Atama ni kuru

Lit. – Come to head

Meaning – To get mad

Example: 皆の前でバカにされて、頭に来た。Minna no mae de baka ni sarete, atama ni kita. —-> I got mad at being slighted in front of everyone.

 

 

歯 Ha or Teeth

歯が立たない Ha ga tatanai

Lit. – Hard to chew

Meaning – To be unable to handle a task

Example:長刀では、彼女に歯が立ちません。Naginata de wa, kanojo ni ha ga tachimasen. —-> I am no match for her in Naginata.

 

 

鼻 Hana or Nose

鼻で笑う Hana de warau

Lit. – Laugh with one’s nose

Meaning – To snigger

Example:同僚は、私の言い訳を鼻で笑いました。Dōryō wa, watashi no iiwake wo hana de waraimashita.—-> My colleague sniggered at my excuse.

 

鼻が高い Hana ga takai

Lit. – Nose is high

Meaning – To be proud

Example:こんな立派なお嬢さんがいて、鼻が高いでしょう。Konna rippana ojōsan ga ite, hana ga takai deshou. —-> You must be proud to have such a wonderful daughter.

 

鼻の先 Hana no saki

Lit. – Tip of the nose

Meaning –  Very close

Example:居酒屋は、すぐ鼻の先にあります。Izakaya wa, sugu hana no saki ni arimasu. —-> The pub is right next to us.

 

 

腹 Hara or Stomach

腹が立つ Hara ga tatsu

Lit. – One’s stomach stands up

Meaning – To be angry

Example: 彼の無礼な態度に腹が立ちます。Kare no bureina taido ni hara ga tachimasu. —-> I am angry at his rudeness.

 

腹を決める Hara wo kimeru

Lit. – To decide one’s stomach

Meaning – To make up one’s mind

Example: 会社を辞めることに腹を決めた。Kaisha wo yameru koto ni hara wo kimeta.—-> I have decided to leave the company.

 

 

心 Kokoro or Heart

心に刻む Kokoro ni Kizamu

Lit. – To be engraved in one’s heart

Meaning – Not to be forgotten

Example: 私は先生の言葉を心に刻んだ。Watashi wa sensei no kotoba wo kokoro ni kizanda. —-> I etched my teacher’s words in my heart.

 

心を入れ替える Kokoro wo irekaeru

Lit. – Replace one’s heart

Meaning – To change one’s habits

Example: 合格したかったら、心を入れ替えて真面目に勉強しなさい。Gōkaku shitakattara, kokoro wo irekaete majime ni benkyō shi nasai. —-> If you want to pass, you should change your habits and study seriously.

 

心細い Kokorobosoi

Lit. – Narrow heart

Meaning – To feel uneasy

Example: 人前でスピーチをするのは心細いです。Hitomae de supīchi wo suru no wa kokorobosoi desu. —-> I feel uneasy giving speech in public.

 

 

首 Kubi or Neck

首になる Kubi ni naru

Lit. – To become a neck

Meaning – To be fired

Example: 友達のお父さんは首になりました。Tomodachi no otōsan wa kubi ni narimashita. —-> My friend’s father was fired.

 

首にする Kubi ni suru

Lit. – To neck

Meaning – To fire someone

Example: 彼はさんざんな失敗をしたので首にしました。Kare wa sanzanna shippai wo shita node kubi ni shimashita.—-> I fired him because he did a terrible mistake.

 

首を横に振る Kubi wo yoko ni furu

Lit. – To turn one’s neck

Meaning – To say no

Example: 彼はその申し込みに、首を横に振りました。Kare wa sono mōshikomi ni, kubi wo yoko ni furimashita.—-> He said no to that offer.

 

 

目 Me or Eyes

目がない Me ga nai

Lit. – Having no eyes

Meaning – To be extremely fond of something

Example: 彼女は甘い物に目がない。Kanojo wa amai mono ni meganai. —-> She is extremely fond of sweets.

 

目が高い Me ga takai

Lit. – eyes are high

Meaning – To have an eye for something

Example: 彼は技術に対する目が高いです。Kare wa gijutsu ni taisuru me ga takai desu. —-> He has an expert eye for technology.

 

目に浮かぶ Me ni ukabu

Lit. – To float in the eyes

Meaning – To flash in front of eyes

Example:その音楽を聞くと、ふるさとのことが目に浮かびます。Sono ongaku wo kiku to, furusato no koto ga me ni ukabimasu. —-> Whenever I hear that music, the image of my hometown flashes in front of my eyes.

 

目の毒 Me no doku

Lit. – poison for the eyes

Meaning – Too much of a temptation

Example: 高くて買えないものは目の毒だ。Takakute kaenai mono wa me no dokuda. —-> Things that cannot be bought because they are expensive are too much of a temptation.

 

白い目で見る Shiroi me de miru

Lit. – To look with white eyes

Meaning – A scornful look

Example: 彼は性格が悪いのでみんなが白い目で見ています。Kare wa seikaku ga warui node minna ga shiroi me de mite imasu. —-> Because he has a bad personality, everyone looks at him scornfully.

 

 

耳 Mimi or Ears

耳が早い Mimi ga hayai

Lit. – Ears are fast

Meaning – Someone who understands information faster than others

Example: 彼は新聞記者だけあって耳が早いですね。kare wa shinbun kisha dake atte mimi ga hayai desu ne. —-> Because he is a news reporter, information reaches him fast.

 

耳にする Mimi ni suru

Lit. – To ear

Meaning – to happen to hear

Example:　彼女は転職するという噂を耳にしました。Kanojo wa tenshoku suru to iu uwasa wo mimi ni shimashita.—-> I heard rumors that she will change her job.

 

 

胸 Mune or Chest

胸を張って Mune wo hatte

Lit. – Throw out one’s chest

Meaning –  to act with confidence

Example: これはあなたのせいではなかったら、胸を張ってそう言いなさい。Kore wa anata no sei de wa nakattara, mune wo hatte sō ii nasai. —-> If this is not your fault, say so with confidence.

 

胸を打つ Mune wo utsu

Lit. –  To hit one’s chest

Meaning – To be deeply moved

Example: 彼の優しさが胸を打った。Kare no yasashi-sa ga mune wo utta. —-> I was moved by his kindness.

 

 

手 Te or Hands

手に入る Te ni hairu

Lit. -To enter in the hands

Meaning – To obtain

Example: 良い仕事を手に入れました。Yoi shigoto wo te ni iremashita. —-> I landed a good job.

 

 

腕 Ude or Arms

腕を磨く Ude wo migaku

Lit. – To polish one’s arms

Meaning – To polish one’s skills

Example:料理の腕を磨くために料理本を買いました。Ryōri no ude wo migaku tame ni ryōrihon wo kaimashita. —-> To polish my cooking skills, I bought a cookbook.