慎む
to exercise discretion, to refrain from
→ Please exercise discretion with your remarks during the conference.
わきまえる(弁える)
to know (one's place/manners), to be mindful of
→ As a working adult, one should be mindful of proper manners.
一から十まで
from A to Z, entirely, every single detail
→ Unless you explain from A to Z, he simply won't understand.
気兼ねする
feeling hesitant, constrained (to feel uneasy)
→ Staying over at a friend's house inevitably makes me feel constrained.
気が引ける
feeling awkward, feeling guilty, diffident
→ When everyone is busy, I feel awkward leaving for home all by myself.
年配
elderly, senior
→ Let us offer our seats to elderly people.
一目置く
to acknowledge superiority, to take off one's hat to
→ Everyone takes off their hat to her extraordinary linguistic ability.
拝借する
borrowing (humble)
→ I would like to borrow your wisdom, would that be all right?
寛大な
generous, tolerant, magnanimous
→ The judge handed down a generous and lenient ruling to the defendant.
大目に見る
to overlook, to let pass, to view leniently
→ Since this is the first time, let's overlook it this once.
長い目で見る
to take a long-term view
→ Rather than demanding instant outcomes, it is vital to take a long-term view.
促す
to urge, to prompt, to encourage
→ The teacher urged the students to study proactively on their own.
却下する
rejection, dismissal (to reject, dismiss)
→ The proposal was dismissed on grounds of insufficient budget.
慕う
to adore, to yearn for, to look up to
→ The students look up to and adore the kind teacher.
恐れ入る
to feel sorry to trouble, to be much obliged (humble)
→ I am terribly sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me your name once more?
仰ぐ
to look up to; to seek, to ask for (guidance)
→ When in trouble, one should seek the opinions of specialists.
とがめる(咎める)
to blame, to reprimand, to reproach
→ Having repeated his tardiness, he was reprimanded by the teacher.
準じる
to follow, to conform to, to be equivalent to
→ Salary will be treated in accordance with that of regular employees.
対等な
equal, on an equal footing
→ We should aim for a society where men and women work on an equal footing.
ため口
casual talk, peer language (to someone older)
→ It is rude to use casual language with someone you meet for the first time.
ぞんざいな
rude, careless, slipshod, impolite
→ Being treated in a slipshod and rude manner, I felt angry.
煙たい
smoky; oppressive, feeling constrained
→ A naggy mother-in-law is an oppressive presence for a daughter-in-law.
前置き
introductory remarks, preface, preamble
→ Let's end the introductory remarks here and get to the main topic.
くどい
tedious, repetitive, long-winded
→ Telling the same thing over and over is tedious, so please stop.
息苦しい
stifling, choking, oppressive
→ With far too many regulations, it is an oppressive, stifling workplace.
理屈
logic, reason, argument, theory
→ I understand the logic, but in reality it is difficult.
へりくだる(謙る)
to humble oneself, to condescend
→ In Japan, humble expressions are preferred.
おだてる(煽てる)
to flatter, to coax, to cajole
→ Flattering me won't get you anything.
引き下がる
to back down, to withdraw, to give in
→ I was turned down once, but I cannot back down easily.
パワハラ
power harassment, workplace bullying
→ Laws against power harassment have become stricter.
