Idiomatic Expressions
Deze les is nog niet in jouw taal beschikbaar — hij wordt in het Engels getoond.
Woordenschat
- 一石二鳥kill two birds with one stone
- 以心伝心telepathic communication
- 自業自得reap what you sow
- 十人十色to each their own
- 目を通すto glance through/review
- 手を打つto take action/make a deal
- 腕を磨くto hone one's skills
- 顔が広いto be well-connected
- 口が堅いto be tight-lipped
- 気が利くto be attentive/perceptive
Japanese Idioms: Yojijukugo and Body Idioms
Japanese idiomatic expressions fall into two major categories at C1 level: 四字熟語 (four-character compound idioms from Chinese) and 体の慣用句 (body-part idioms native to Japanese).
四字熟語 (Yojijukugo)
These compact four-kanji phrases pack deep meaning. They appear in formal writing, speeches, and proverbs:
- 一石二鳥 (いっせきにちょう) — achieving two goals at once
- 以心伝心 (いしんでんしん) — understanding without words
- 自業自得 (じごうじとく) — suffering consequences of your own actions
Body Idioms (体の慣用句)
Japanese uses body parts metaphorically in fixed expressions:
- 目を通す — to read through (lit. "pass eyes over")
- 手を打つ — to take measures (lit. "strike hands")
- 腕を磨く — to improve skills (lit. "polish arms")
Usage Tips
Yojijukugo are more formal and literary. Body idioms are used across all registers. Mixing them naturally signals advanced fluency.
Uitdrukkingen
- 一石二鳥を狙うAim for two goals with one action
- 以心伝心で通じるCommunicate through unspoken understanding
- 目を通していただけますかPolitely ask someone to review something
- そろそろ手を打たないとExpress urgency to take action
- 腕を磨いてきた甲斐があるSay that skill-building efforts paid off
- 彼は本当に気が利くPraise someone as perceptive and considerate
Veelgemaakte fouten
一石二鳥をする一石二鳥を狙うYou aim for (狙う) two birds, not do (する) them.
目を読む目を通すThe idiom uses 通す (pass through), not 読む (read).
手を打った方がいい手を打つべきだAt C1, use べき for stronger conviction in formal contexts.
顔が大きい顔が広い顔が大きい means big face literally; 広い means wide (well-connected).
以心伝心がある以心伝心で通じるYojijukugo pair with specific verbs; 通じる means to communicate.
Korte quiz
Vraag 1 van 5
Hoe zeg je «telepathic communication» in het Japans?
De echte tutor Japans woont in de app
Lezen is een begin — Mio is gemaakt om te oefenen. De app voegt alles toe wat het web niet kan:
- Gesprek
Echte gesprekken met je AI-tutor
- Luisteren
Korte verhalen en dialogen met begripsvragen
- Slimme kaarten
Gespreide herhaling die woorden toont net voordat je ze vergeet
- Je coach Mio
Volgt je fouten en bouwt een dagplan rond je zwakke plekken