Japanese Idioms: Why a Wide Face Means Friends

Idioms: faces, bellies and four-character phrases

腹 hara (belly) is the seat of true feelings in Japanese, much as English uses “heart”.

Short answer: Japanese idioms (慣用句 kan’yōku) lean heavily on the body: someone with a “wide face” (顔が広い) knows everyone, and your “belly stands up” (腹が立つ) when you are angry. A second family is the four-character idiom (四字熟語 yojijukugo), compact phrases from Chinese like 一石二鳥, “one stone, two birds”. Both appear constantly in conversation, news and writing.

Body-part idioms

Grouped by body part. The literal meaning often explains the image.

顔 face

頭 head

手 hand

目 eye

腹・口 belly, mouth

気: the most versatile word

気 ki (spirit, mind, attention) appears in dozens of everyday expressions.

Expression	Meaning	Literally
ki ga tsuku	notice	spirit attaches
ki ni naru	be on one’s mind	become spirit
ki o tsukeru	be careful	attach spirit
ki ga au	get on well	spirits match
ki ga mijikai	short-tempered	spirit is short
ki ni shinai	don’t worry about it	don’t make it spirit

Four-character idioms

Read with on readings, often learned at school and used in speeches, essays and on posters.

Animal idioms

Cats, dogs and other animals in everyday expressions.

口 and 耳 idioms

Expressions about talking and listening.

Idioms in a story

A short office story using four idioms.

今週こんしゅうkonshūthis weekはwa(topic)猫の手も借りたいねこのてもかりたいneko no te mo karitaiextremely busyほどhodoto the extent忙しいいそがしいisogashiibusy

Konshū wa neko no te mo karitai hodo isogashii.“This week I’m rushed off my feet.”Why:

田中さんたなかさんTanaka-sanTanakaはwa(topic)口くちkuchimouthがga(subject)堅いかたいkataifirmからkaraso安心あんしんanshinrelief

Tanaka-san wa kuchi ga katai kara anshin.“Tanaka can keep a secret, so no worries.”Why:

社長しゃちょうshachōthe presidentのno’s鶴の一声つるのひとこえtsuru no hitokoefinal wordでdeby決まったきまったkimattawas decided

Shachō no tsuru no hitokoe de kimatta.“The president’s word settled it.”Why:

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

well connected (“wide face”)
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kao ga hiroi
get angry (“belly stands up”)
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hara ga tatsu
have a weakness for
Show answer
me ga nai
two birds with one stone
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isseki nichō
so busy I’d take any help
Show answer
neko no te mo karitai

Idioms in conversation

Each sentence uses one idiom from this page.

田中さんたなかさんTanaka-sanTanakaはwa(topic)顔かおkaofaceがga(subject)広いひろいhiroiwideからkaraso聞いてきいてkiiteaskみたらmitarawhy not try

Tanaka-san wa kao ga hiroi kara, kiite mitara?“Tanaka knows everyone, so why not ask him?”Why: 顔が広い: well connected.

甘い物あまいものamai monosweet thingsにnifor目めmeeyesがga(subject)ないんですnai n desuhave none

Amai mono ni me ga nai n desu.“I have a real weakness for sweets.”Why: 目がない: literally “have no eyes for”, meaning you cannot resist.

一期一会いちごいちえichigo ichieonce-in-a-lifetime meetingをo(object)大切にたいせつにtaisetsu niwith careしたいshitaiwant to do

Ichigo ichie o taisetsu ni shitai.“I want to treasure every encounter.”Why: From the tea ceremony: each gathering is unique.