Japanese idioms about moods and feelings

Each Japanese idiom below comes with what its words literally say, what it means and how other languages put the same idea. To see every language at once, open the side-by-side page for moods and feelings.

  1. 天にも昇る心地

    ten ni mo noboru kokochi

    lit. ‘a feeling of rising up even to heaven’

    To be extremely happy and delighted.

    Elsewhere

  2. 肩を落とす

    kata o otosu

    lit. ‘to drop one’s shoulders’

    To feel low, gloomy or a bit depressed.

    Elsewhere

  3. 耳にたこができる

    mimi ni tako ga dekiru

    lit. ‘calluses form on your ears’

    To have completely run out of patience with something.

    Elsewhere

  4. 堪忍袋の緒が切れる

    kanninbukuro no o ga kireru

    lit. ‘the cord of the patience bag snaps’

    To suddenly lose your temper.

    Elsewhere

  5. 鳥肌

    torihada

    lit. ‘bird skin’

    Small bumps on the skin caused by cold, fear or a strong emotion.

    Elsewhere

  6. 開いた口が塞がらない

    aita kuchi ga fusagaranai

    lit. ‘the mouth that fell open won’t close’

    To be so astonished you can hardly believe what you're seeing or hearing.

    Elsewhere

  7. 腹を抱えて笑う

    hara o kakaete warau

    lit. ‘to laugh holding your belly’

    To laugh very hard.

    Elsewhere

Phrases in bold with a red marker are written up. The rest are waiting for their own page and a check by a native speaker.