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Japonin Classic · Idioms 21–25

Japanese Idioms – Part 5 (21–25)

Learn 5 Japanese idioms that reflect daily life and human nature, with JP/EN examples and a short video lesson.

These idioms are common in everyday conversation and JLPT preparation (N3–N1). They reveal money matters, habits, honesty, and personal feelings, helping you apply Japanese more naturally and recognize authentic expressions.

? Suggested: JLPT N3–N1 / CEFR B1–C2 ⏱ ~4 min

Part of the Japonin Classic Series, with retro-style illustrations and short video lessons for effective and enjoyable learning.

すっからかん

Meaning: Completely empty; nothing inside. Most often used to describe having no money in one’s wallet.
Usage: Commonly used when someone’s wallet has no money left. It strongly emphasizes being broke and often carries a light or humorous tone.
Register: Informal. Common in casual talk.
Japanese idiom すっからかん (sukkarakan) – meaning and examples video lesson ▶
▶ Watch on YouTube

Examples

  • 給料日きゅうりょうびの前まえで、さいふがすっからかんだ。
    It’s right before payday and my wallet is completely empty.
  • 友ともだちに誘さそわれたけど、さいふがすっからかんでいけない。
    My friends invited me, but my wallet is empty so I can’t go.
Mini Quiz

A: きょうランチいける？
B: ごめん、財布さいふが（　　　）なんだ。

  1. 満腹まんぷく
  2. 満まんタン
  3. すっからかん
Answer

③ すっからかん

Vocabulary & Notes
  • すっからかん：completely empty; broke
  • 給料日きゅうりょうび：payday
  • 満腹まんぷく：full stomach
  • 満まんタン：full tank

出で不精ぶしょう

Meaning: Homebody; someone reluctant to go out or socialize.
Usage: Used when describing a person who prefers to stay home rather than going out. It can imply being lazy, but also simply enjoying indoor life or avoiding the hassle of going outside.
Register: Neutral to casual. Common in everyday talk.
Japanese idiom 出不精 (debusho) – meaning and examples video lesson ▶
▶ Watch the Lesson on YouTube

Examples

  • 彼かれは出で不精ぶしょうで、週末しゅうまつも家いえで過すごすことが多おおい。
    He’s a homebody and often spends weekends at home.
  • 彼かれは行動的こうどうてきに見みえるけど、本当ほんとうは出で不精ぶしょうなんです。
    He looks active, but in reality he’s a homebody.
Mini Quiz

A: 授業じゅぎょうのあと、みんなでカフェに行いこうって話はなしてるんだけど、Bさんも行く？
B: ごめん、さいきんすっかり（　　　　）になっちゃって。また今度こんどね。

  1. 出で不精ぶしょう
  2. 人気者にんきもの
  3. 楽天家らくてんか
Answer

① 出で不精ぶしょう

Vocabulary & Notes
  • 出不精でぶしょう：homebody; reluctant to go out
  • 人気者にんきもの：popular person
  • 楽天家らくてんか：optimist

サバを読よむ

Meaning: To cheat on numbers / age; to shave a few off or exaggerate counts.
Usage: Saying numbers differently to look better, such as pretending to be younger or inflating attendance. It is usually playful, not serious.
Register: Informal. Common in everyday talk and media.
Japanese idiom サバを読む (saba o yomu) – meaning and examples video lesson ▶
▶ Watch on YouTube

Examples

  • 最近さいきん知しり合あった彼かれに年としを聞きかれて、つい５歳さいほどサバを読んじゃった。
    I was asked my age by a guy I just met, and I knocked off about five years.
  • 芸能界げいのうかいで、サバを読むのは普通ふつうらしいよ。
    In the entertainment world, it seems normal to fudge your age a little.
Mini Quiz

A: 彼女は45歳さいって言いったけど、本当ほんとうは58だって。
B: えー。（　　　　）の？　若わかく見みえるね。

  1. サバを読よんでた
  2. 計算けいさんしてた
  3. 節約せつやくしてた
Answer

① サバを読よんだ

Vocabulary & Notes
  • サバを読よむ：to fudge numbers; to shave off years
  • 芸能界げいのうかい：entertainment world; show business
  • 普通ふつう：normal; usual
  • 節約せつやく：saving; economizing

元もとも子こもない

Meaning: Lose everything / pointless; you end up with nothing and miss the whole point.
Usage: Used when an action backfires so badly that the original benefit is lost. For example, working too hard until you get sick, or trying to save money in a way that causes even bigger losses.
Register: Neutral. Common in conversation and writing.
Japanese idiom 元も子もない (motomo komo nai) – meaning and examples video lesson ▶
▶ Watch the Lesson on YouTube

Examples

  • 無理むりに残業ざんぎょうして体調たいちょうを崩くずしたら、元もとも子こもないよ。
    If you overwork and get sick, you’ll lose everything—it defeats the purpose.
  • 節約せつやくをして人間関係にんげんかんけいが悪わるくなったら、元もとも子こもない。
    If extreme penny-pinching hurts your relationships, it’s pointless.
Mini Quiz

A: 徹夜てつやでやれば間まに合あうかも。
B: でも倒たおれたら（　　　）よ。

  1. 助たすかった
  2. 大成功だいせいこう
  3. 元もとも子こもない
Answer

③ 元もとも子こもない

Vocabulary & Notes
  • 元もとも子こもない：lose everything; miss the point
  • 体調たいちょうを崩くずす：to get sick; ruin one’s health
  • 徹夜てつやする：to stay up all night

虫むしが好すかない

Meaning: Can’t stand someone; you just don’t take to them for some reason.
Usage: Used when you feel an irrational or instinctive dislike toward someone, without a clear reason. It suggests poor chemistry rather than a specific fault, and is usually said about people rather than things.
Register: Neutral to casual. Can sound blunt.
Japanese idiom 虫が好かない (mushi ga sukanai) – meaning and examples video lesson ▶
▶ Watch on YouTube

Examples

  • 彼はとても親切しんせつなんだけど、なんとなく虫むしが好すかないんだ。
    He’s really kind, but for some reason I just can’t warm to him.
  • 理由りゆうは分わからないけど、あの人ひとはどうも虫むしが好すかない。
    I don’t know why, but I just can’t stand that person.
Mini Quiz

A: どうしてあの上司じょうしと合あわないの？
B: うーん、何なんか（　　　）んだよね。

  1. 仲なかがいい
  2. 虫むしが好すかない
  3. 尊敬そんけいしている
Answer

② 虫むしが好すかない

Vocabulary & Notes
  • 虫むしが好すかない：instinctively can’t stand someone
  • 親切しんせつ：kindness; kind
  • 理由りゆう：reason
  • 尊敬そんけいする：to respect

? Back to the full list: 30 Japanese Idioms  · ? Try quizzes: Idioms quizzes

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Written by Chiho Kamioka, Founder of Japonin (JOI)