| フィギュラティフ | [, figyurateifu] (n) figurative |
| 比喩表現 | [ひゆひょうげん, hiyuhyougen] (n) {ling} figurative expression; metaphorical expression |
| ガクガクブルブル | [, gakugakuburuburu] (vs) (on-mim) (See ガクガク,ブルブル) to tremble; to shiver (from stress, fear or panic); (figuratively) to experience a sense of stress, fear, or panic |
| ガクブル | [, gakuburu] (vs) (abbr) (on-mim) (See ガクガク,ガクガクブルブル,ブルブル) to tremble; to shiver (from stress, fear or panic); (figuratively) to experience a sense of stress, fear, or panic |
| ばい菌(P);黴菌 | [ばいきん, baikin] (n) (1) (col) germ; germs; bacteria; mold (mould); (2) something harmful (used figuratively); vermin; (P) |
| はまり道 | [はまりみち, hamarimichi] (n) road to (figurative) addiction |
| ぶち当たる;打ち当たる | [ぶちあたる, buchiataru] (v5r) (1) to slam into (e.g. a wall, a limit) (figuratively); to hit; (2) to face (e.g. trouble, a problem); to confront |
| 割れ返る | [われかえる, warekaeru] (v5r,vi) to break completely; to (figuratively) bring the house down |
| 壷;壺;壼(iK) | [つぼ;つほ(ok);つふ(ok), tsubo ; tsuho (ok); tsufu (ok)] (n) (1) jar; pot; vase; (2) dice cup; (3) depression (i.e. the basin of a waterfall); (4) (arch) target (when aiming an arrow); (5) (See 思うつぼ) (figurative) bull's-eye; (6) key point (of a conversation, etc.); (7) acupuncture point; moxibustion point; (8) (often ツボ) nodes on a fingerboard (of a shamisen, etc.) |
| 形容 | [けいよう, keiyou] (n,vs) (1) describing; comparing; expressing figuratively; modifying; qualifying (e.g. an adjective qualifying a noun); (n) (2) form; figure; condition; state; (3) personal appearance; one's face and figure; looks; (P) |
| 影を落とす | [かげをおとす, kagewootosu] (exp,v5s) to cast a shadow (lit. or figurative) |
| 手のひらを返す;手の平を返す;掌を返す | [てのひらをかえす;たなごころをかえす(掌を返す), tenohirawokaesu ; tanagokorowokaesu ( tenohira wo kaesu )] (exp,v5s) (1) to change one's attitude quickly; (2) (たなごころをかえす is often used figuratively as an example of something easy) to flip over one's hand |
| 本食い虫 | [ほんくいむし, honkuimushi] (n) bookworm (literal and figurative) |
| 玉(P);球;珠;弾 | [たま, tama] (n) (1) ball; sphere; globe; orb; (2) bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet; (3) (esp. 球) ball (in sports); (4) pile (of noodles, etc.); (5) (esp. 弾; also written as 弾丸) bullet; (6) (esp. 球) bulb (i.e. a light bulb); (7) lens (of glasses, etc.); (8) (esp. 玉,珠) bead (of an abacus); (9) (sl) (abbr) (esp. 玉) (See 金玉・きんたま) ball (i.e. a testicle); (10) (esp. 玉,珠; also written as 璧) gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl; (11) female entertainer (e.g. a geisha); (12) (derog) person (when commenting on their nature); character; (13) item, funds or person used as part of a plot; (n,n-suf) (14) (See 玉子・2) egg; (n-suf) (15) (usu. だま) coin; (16) precious; beautiful; excellent; (P) |
| 荊棘 | [けいきょく;ばら, keikyoku ; bara] (n) (1) wild rose; bramble; (2) briar patch; (3) thorn (used figuratively as an obstacle or source of difficulty) |
| 蛆虫 | [うじむし, ujimushi] (n) (1) maggot; (2) worm (used figuratively as a term of abuse) |
| 見分ける(P);見わける | [みわける, miwakeru] (v1,vt) (1) to distinguish; to recognize; to recognise; to tell apart; to differentiate (both figuratively and visually); (2) to identify (whether an object is positive or negative in some aspect); to know the difference between something of superior and inferior quality (on sight or figuratively); (P) |
| 覚醒 | [かくせい, kakusei] (n,vs) (1) waking up; awakening; arousal; revival; (2) disillusion; disillusionment; awakening (figurative) |
| 詰め;詰 | [つめ;づめ, tsume ; dume] (n,suf) (1) (づめ when a suffix) stuffing; packing; (n) (2) end (esp. the foot of a bridge); (3) lowest-ranking guest at tea ceremony; (4) tea master; (5) endgame (esp. in shogi or used figuratively); (6) (abbr) sweet eel sauce; (7) (arch) middle-aged woman; (n-suf) (8) appointment to a particular workplace; (9) using as the sole ground of judgement (judgment); (10) (after the -masu stem of a verb) continuing; keep doing for period of time |
| 踏み台;踏台 | [ふみだい, fumidai] (n) (1) stool (stood on to reach high objects); small stepladder; (2) (figurative) stepping stone |
| 遣り場;やり場 | [やりば, yariba] (n) place of refuge (figurative); outlet (for an emotion, anger, etc.) |