Secrets
Idioms, Stage 3chunk 5 of 22Talking & listening
Sharing a secret, letting it slip, playing dumb, and keeping it for life.
- koko dake no hanashibetween you and meliterally “a talk for here only”
- kuchi ga suberulet something slipliterally “mouth slips”
- shira o kiruplay dumb, pretend not to knowliterally “put on a not-knowing act (shira; kiru as in mie o kiru, strike a pose)”
- hakaba made motte ikukeep a secret to the graveliterally “carry it as far as the graveyard”
Mix-ups kuchi ga suberu (let it slip) vs shira o kiru (play dumb about what you know); koko dake no hanashi shares a secret, hakaba made motte iku keeps one forever.
koko dake no hanashi
“a talk for here only”
between you and me
In English: between you and me
The usual opener before a secret or a frank opinion: koko dake no hanashi, ... It quietly asks the listener not to spread it.
koko dake no hanashi, kare kekkon suru n da tte.
Between you and me, I hear he's getting married.
ここだけの話、彼結婚するんだって。
koko dake no hanashi, kare, kekkon suru rashii desu yo.
Between you and me, apparently he's getting married.
ここだけの話、彼、結婚するらしいですよ。
Written ここだけの話 · ここだけのはなしHeard 52× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kuchi ga katai, kuchi ga karui, kuchi ga suberu, shira o kiru, hakaba made motte ikuMain list koko (Stage 1), dake (Stage 2)
kuchi ga suberu
polite kuchi ga suberimasu
“mouth slips”
let something slip
In English: let something slip
Mostly in the past, as an apology or excuse for blurting out a secret or a careless remark: tsui kuchi ga subetchatta (it just slipped out). Also heard as kuchi o suberaseru (let it slip).
gomen, tsui kuchi ga subetchatta.
Sorry, it just slipped out.
ごめん、つい口が滑っちゃった。
sumimasen, tsui kuchi ga suberimashita.
I'm sorry, it just slipped out.
すみません、つい口が滑りました。
Written 口が滑る · くちがすべるHeard 30× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kuchi ga katai, kuchi ga karui, koko dake no hanashi, shira o kiru, hakaba made motte ikuMain list -chau (Stage 1), -ta (Stage 1), gomen (Stage 1)
shira o kiru
polite shira o kirimasu
“put on a not-knowing act (shira; kiru as in mie o kiru, strike a pose)”
play dumb, pretend not to know
In English: play dumb
Accusing someone of acting ignorant about something they clearly know, usually their own wrongdoing: shira kitte mo muda da yo (no use playing dumb). Mostly said to someone else, as shira o kiru na or shira kiranaide. Finally telling under pressure is the opposite, kuchi o waru.
Everyday alternatives: tobokenaide yo (don't play dumb), shirabakkureru.
shira kitte mo muda da yo, miteta n da kara.
No use playing dumb, I saw you.
しら切っても無駄だよ、見てたんだから。
shira o kitte mo muda desu yo, mite ita n desu kara.
There's no point playing dumb. I saw you.
しらを切っても無駄ですよ、見ていたんですから。
Written しらを切る · しらをきるHeard 15× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kuchi ga katai, kuchi ga karui, koko dake no hanashi, kuchi ga suberu, hakaba made motte ikuMain list -te mo (Stage 2), miru (Stage 2), -kara (Stage 1)
hakaba made motte iku
polite hakaba made motte ikimasu
“carry it as far as the graveyard”
keep a secret to the grave
In English: take it to the grave
Promising never to tell anyone, as a solemn vow or half-jokingly about something embarrassing: kono koto wa hakaba made motte iku (I'm taking this to the grave). It's also said of a regret or humiliation you'll carry all your life: kono kutsujoku wa hakaba made motte iku.
Casual: hakaba made motteku. Also: haka made motte iku.
kono hanashi wa hakaba made motteku yo.
I'm taking this one to the grave.
この話は墓場まで持ってくよ。
kono hanashi wa hakaba made motte ikimasu yo.
I'll take this one to the grave.
この話は墓場まで持っていきますよ。
Written 墓場まで持っていく · はかばまでもっていくHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kuchi ga katai, kuchi ga karui, koko dake no hanashi, kuchi ga suberu, shira o kiruMain list -made (Stage 4), motsu (Stage 1), -te iku (Stage 4)