Idioms & Expressions
Idioms, sound words, old-style expressions, similes and casual speech in 注文の多い料理店 (The Restaurant of Many Orders).
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Sound & mimetic word
ぴかぴかぴかぴか
Meaning: shiny; gleaming
二人の若い紳士が、すっかりイギリスの兵隊のかたちをして、ぴかぴかする鉄砲をかついで、白熊のような犬を二疋つれて、だいぶ山奥の、木の葉のかさかさしたとこを、こんなことを云いながら、あるいておりました。
Two young gentlemen, dressed exactly like British soldiers, with gleaming guns on their shoulders and two dogs like polar bears at their side, were walking deep in the mountains where the dry leaves rustled, saying things like this.
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白熊のようなしろくまのような
Meaning: (dogs) like polar bears — huge and white
二人の若い紳士が、すっかりイギリスの兵隊のかたちをして、ぴかぴかする鉄砲をかついで、白熊のような犬を二疋つれて、だいぶ山奥の、木の葉のかさかさしたとこを、こんなことを云いながら、あるいておりました。
Two young gentlemen, dressed exactly like British soldiers, with gleaming guns on their shoulders and two dogs like polar bears at their side, were walking deep in the mountains where the dry leaves rustled, saying things like this.
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Old-style
二疋にひき
Meaning: two (animals) — 疋 is an old counter for animals (today 匹)
二人の若い紳士が、すっかりイギリスの兵隊のかたちをして、ぴかぴかする鉄砲をかついで、白熊のような犬を二疋つれて、だいぶ山奥の、木の葉のかさかさしたとこを、こんなことを云いながら、あるいておりました。
Two young gentlemen, dressed exactly like British soldiers, with gleaming guns on their shoulders and two dogs like polar bears at their side, were walking deep in the mountains where the dry leaves rustled, saying things like this.
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Sound & mimetic word
かさかさかさかさ
Meaning: rustling; dry and crackling (leaves)
二人の若い紳士が、すっかりイギリスの兵隊のかたちをして、ぴかぴかする鉄砲をかついで、白熊のような犬を二疋つれて、だいぶ山奥の、木の葉のかさかさしたとこを、こんなことを云いながら、あるいておりました。
Two young gentlemen, dressed exactly like British soldiers, with gleaming guns on their shoulders and two dogs like polar bears at their side, were walking deep in the mountains where the dry leaves rustled, saying things like this.
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Old-style
ぜんたいぜんたい
Meaning: (old) really; what on earth
「ぜんたい、ここらの山は怪しからんね。
"Really, these mountains are no good.
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Old-style
怪しからんけしからん
Meaning: (here) no good; disappointing — usually "outrageous"
「ぜんたい、ここらの山は怪しからんね。
"Really, these mountains are no good.
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Casual speech
居やがらんいやがらん
Meaning: there isn't (a single one) — いる + やがる (scornful) + ん (not)
鳥も獣も一疋も居やがらん。
Not a single bird or beast around.
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Sound & mimetic word
タンタアーンたんたあーん
Meaning: bang! — the sound of a gunshot
なんでも構わないから、早くタンタアーンと、やって見たいもんだなあ。」
I don't care what it is — I just want to fire off a bang! at something soon."
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Idiom
お見舞するおみまいする
Meaning: (joking) to hit (something) with — here, to fire a few shots at the deer
Literal: to pay a sympathy visit
「鹿の黄いろな横っ腹なんぞに、二三発お見舞もうしたら、ずいぶん痛快だろうねえ。
"It would be a real thrill to put two or three shots into a deer's yellow flank.
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Sound & mimetic word
くるくるくるくる
Meaning: round and round (spinning)
くるくるまわって、それからどたっと倒れるだろうねえ。」
It would spin round and round and then fall down with a thud."
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Sound & mimetic word
どたっとどたっと
Meaning: with a heavy thud (falling down)
くるくるまわって、それからどたっと倒れるだろうねえ。」
It would spin round and round and then fall down with a thud."
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Idiom
顔いろを悪くするかおいろをわるくする
Meaning: to look upset; to turn a little pale
Literal: to make one's face color bad
はじめの紳士は、すこし顔いろを悪くして、じっと、もひとりの紳士の、顔つきを見ながら云いました。
The first gentleman, looking a little pale, stared at the other gentleman's face and said:
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Old-style
拾円じゅうえん
Meaning: ten yen — 拾 is an old way of writing 十
なあに戻りに、昨日の宿屋で、山鳥を拾円も買って帰ればいい。」
Oh, never mind — on the way back we can just buy ten yen's worth of pheasants at yesterday's inn and take them home."
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Casual speech
おんなじこったおんなじこった
Meaning: = 同じことだ: it comes to the same thing
そうすれば結局おんなじこった。
Then it comes to the same thing in the end.
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Idiom
見当がつかないけんとうがつかない
Meaning: to have no idea (which way, what, etc.)
Literal: a guess does not attach
ところがどうも困ったことは、どっちへ行けば戻れるのか、いっこうに見当がつかなくなっていました。
The trouble was, though, that they no longer had any idea which way to go to get back.
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Sound & mimetic word
どうとどうと
Meaning: with a roar (of a strong wind)
風がどうと吹いてきて、草はざわざわ、木の葉はかさかさ、木はごとんごとんと鳴りました。
The wind came roaring, the grass swished, the leaves rustled, and the trees creaked and knocked.
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Sound & mimetic word
ざわざわざわざわ
Meaning: rustling; swishing (grass in the wind)
風がどうと吹いてきて、草はざわざわ、木の葉はかさかさ、木はごとんごとんと鳴りました。
The wind came roaring, the grass swished, the leaves rustled, and the trees creaked and knocked.
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Idiom
ご遠慮はありませんごえんりょはありません
Meaning: (on a sign) please don't hold back; you are very welcome (the gentlemen take it to mean the meal is free)
Literal: there is no holding back
決してご遠慮はありません」
Please don't hold back."
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Idiom
こいつはどうだこいつはどうだ
Meaning: Well, how about that! (surprise and delight)
Literal: how is this one?
「こいつはどうだ、やっぱり世の中はうまくできてるねえ、きょう一日なんぎしたけれど、こんどはこんないいこともある。
"Well, how about that! Things in life really do work out. We've had a hard day, but now something good like this comes along.
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Idiom
世の中はうまくできているよのなかはうまくできている
Meaning: things in life work out nicely (in the end)
Literal: the world is well made
「こいつはどうだ、やっぱり世の中はうまくできてるねえ、きょう一日なんぎしたけれど、こんどはこんないいこともある。
"Well, how about that! Things in life really do work out. We've had a hard day, but now something good like this comes along.
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Old-style
なんぎするなんぎする
Meaning: to have a hard time (難儀する)
「こいつはどうだ、やっぱり世の中はうまくできてるねえ、きょう一日なんぎしたけれど、こんどはこんないいこともある。
"Well, how about that! Things in life really do work out. We've had a hard day, but now something good like this comes along.
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Sound & mimetic word
ずんずんずんずん
Meaning: briskly; steadily on and on (walking)
ずんずん廊下を進んで行きますと、こんどは水いろのペンキ塗りの扉がありました。
As they went briskly on down the corridor, this time they came to a door painted light blue.
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Idiom
ご承知くださいごしょうちください
Meaning: (polite) please understand; please be aware
Literal: please (humbly) know
「当軒は注文の多い料理店ですからどうかそこはご承知ください」
"This is a restaurant with many orders, so please be aware of that."
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Old-style
斯うこう
Meaning: old way of writing こう ("like this; this way")
「うん、これはきっと注文があまり多くて支度が手間取るけれどもごめん下さいと斯ういうことだ。」
"Well, this must mean: 'there are so many orders that preparation takes time, so please forgive us.'"
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Old-style
尤ももっとも
Meaning: reasonable; quite right (尤もだ)
「これはどうも尤もだ。
"Well, this is quite reasonable.
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Sound & mimetic word
ぼうっとぼうっと
Meaning: hazily; fading into a blur
ブラシを板の上に置くや否や、そいつがぼうっとかすんで無くなって、風がどうっと室の中に入ってきました。
The moment they put the brush down on the board, it blurred hazily and vanished, and a wind came roaring into the room.
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Idiom
途方もないとほうもない
Meaning: terrible; outrageous; beyond all reason
Literal: without a way
早く何か暖いものでもたべて、元気をつけて置かないと、もう途方もないことになってしまうと、二人とも思ったのでした。
Both of them thought that unless they ate something warm soon and got their strength back, things would get terribly bad.
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Idiom
〜という法はないというほうはない
Meaning: it's not right to ...; nobody would ...
Literal: there is no rule that ...
「なるほど、鉄砲を持ってものを食うという法はない。」
"Of course — nobody eats with a gun in his hands."
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Sound & mimetic word
ぺたぺたぺたぺた
Meaning: pattering (bare or stockinged feet on the floor)
二人は帽子とオーバーコートを釘にかけ、靴をぬいでぺたぺたあるいて扉の中にはいりました。
The two hung their hats and overcoats on the pegs, took off their shoes, and went pattering through the door.
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Old-style
して見るとしてみると
Meaning: in that case; so then
して見ると勘定は帰りにここで払うのだろうか。」
In that case, maybe we pay the bill here on the way out."
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Idiom
ひびが切れるひびがきれる
Meaning: (skin) to get chapped and cracked
Literal: cracks are cut
室のなかがあんまり暖いとひびがきれるから、その予防なんだ。
If the room is too warm, your skin gets chapped, so this is to prevent that.
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Idiom
用意周到よういしゅうとう
Meaning: very well prepared; thoughtful in every detail
Literal: preparation all around
ここの主人はじつに用意周到だね。」
The owner here really is thoughtful in every detail."
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Idiom
気がつくきがつく
Meaning: (here) to be attentive; to think of everything
Literal: the mind attaches (to something)
「ああ、細かいとこまでよく気がつくよ。
"Yes, he thinks of every little thing.
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Sound & mimetic word
ぱちゃぱちゃぱちゃぱちゃ
Meaning: splashing (liquid) lightly
二人はその香水を、頭へぱちゃぱちゃ振りかけました。
The two splashed the perfume onto their heads.
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Idiom
お気の毒でしたおきのどくでした
Meaning: (polite) we are sorry for your trouble
Literal: it was poison for your spirit
お気の毒でした。
We are sorry for your trouble.
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Idiom
こんどというこんどはこんどというこんどは
Meaning: this time, of all times; now at last
Literal: this time that is called this time
なるほど立派な青い瀬戸の塩壺は置いてありましたが、こんどというこんどは二人ともぎょっとしてお互にクリームをたくさん塗った顔を見合せました。
Sure enough, there was a fine blue porcelain salt pot, but this time, of all times, the two of them were startled and looked at each other's faces, thickly covered in cream.
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Sound & mimetic word
ぎょっとぎょっと
Meaning: with a start; startled and alarmed
なるほど立派な青い瀬戸の塩壺は置いてありましたが、こんどというこんどは二人ともぎょっとしてお互にクリームをたくさん塗った顔を見合せました。
Sure enough, there was a fine blue porcelain salt pot, but this time, of all times, the two of them were startled and looked at each other's faces, thickly covered in cream.
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Sound & mimetic word
がたがたがたがた
Meaning: shaking; trembling (with fear)
がたがたがたがた、ふるえだしてもうものが言えませんでした。
They began to tremble and shake and could no longer say a word.
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Idiom
ものが言えないものがいえない
Meaning: to be unable to speak (from fear or shock); to be speechless
Literal: cannot say things
がたがたがたがた、ふるえだしてもうものが言えませんでした。
They began to tremble and shake and could no longer say a word.
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Idiom
わざわざご苦労ですわざわざごくろうです
Meaning: thank you for taking the trouble (to come all this way)
Literal: (you went to) trouble on purpose
「いや、わざわざご苦労です。
"Oh, thank you so much for taking the trouble.
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Sound & mimetic word
きょろきょろきょろきょろ
Meaning: looking around restlessly
おまけにかぎ穴からはきょろきょろ二つの青い眼玉がこっちをのぞいています。
What's more, two blue eyeballs were peering restlessly at them through the keyholes.
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Sound & mimetic word
こそこそこそこそ
Meaning: in whispers; secretly
すると戸の中では、こそこそこんなことを云っています。
Then, behind the door, someone was whispering like this:
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Old-style
呉れやしないくれやしない
Meaning: won't even give (us) — 呉れる is an old way of writing くれる; やしない is a strong "won't"
どうせぼくらには、骨も分けて呉れやしないんだ。」
They won't even give us the bones anyway."
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くしゃくしゃの紙屑のようにくしゃくしゃのかみくずのように
Meaning: like crumpled wastepaper — wrinkled and twisted out of shape
二人はあんまり心を痛めたために、顔がまるでくしゃくしゃの紙屑のようになり、お互にその顔を見合せ、ぶるぶるふるえ、声もなく泣きました。
The two were so distressed that their faces became like crumpled wastepaper; they looked at each other, shook and shivered, and cried without a sound.
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Sound & mimetic word
ぶるぶるぶるぶる
Meaning: shivering; trembling
二人はあんまり心を痛めたために、顔がまるでくしゃくしゃの紙屑のようになり、お互にその顔を見合せ、ぶるぶるふるえ、声もなく泣きました。
The two were so distressed that their faces became like crumpled wastepaper; they looked at each other, shook and shivered, and cried without a sound.
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Idiom
折角のせっかくの
Meaning: (the cream) you went to so much trouble (to put on)
そんなに泣いては折角のクリームが流れるじゃありませんか。
If you cry like that, the cream you went to so much trouble to put on will run, won't it?
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Idiom
舌なめずりしたなめずり
Meaning: licking one's lips (in hungry anticipation)
Literal: licking the tongue around
親方がもうナフキンをかけて、ナイフをもって、舌なめずりして、お客さま方を待っていられます。」
The boss already has his napkin on and his knife in hand, and he's licking his lips, waiting for you, our guests."
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吸い込まれるようにすいこまれるように
Meaning: as if sucked in — disappearing all at once
戸はがたりとひらき、犬どもは吸い込まれるように飛んで行きました。
The door clattered open, and the dogs flew in as if sucked inside.
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Sound & mimetic word
ごろごろごろごろ
Meaning: (a cat's) low growl or purr
「にゃあお、くゎあ、ごろごろ。」
"Meow, kwaa, grrr."
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けむりのようにけむりのように
Meaning: (vanished) like smoke
室はけむりのように消え、二人は寒さにぶるぶるふるえて、草の中に立っていました。
The room vanished like smoke, and the two stood in the grass, shivering with cold.