Who you know
Idioms, Stage 4chunk 3 of 22Getting on with people
Ties, networks and the small-world saying.
- kao ga hiroiknow lots of peopleliterally “the face is wide”
- en o kirubreak off with, disownliterally “cut the bond”
- en ga arube meant to be, have a connectionliterally “there is a tie (of fate)”
- seken wa semaiit's a small worldliterally “society is narrow”
Mix-ups en o kiru (cut ties) vs en ga aru (be meant to be) share en; kao ga hiroi (know lots of people) is not kao o dasu (show up).
kao ga hiroi
polite kao ga hiroi desu
“the face is wide”
know lots of people
Said admiringly about someone with a big network, often when you need a contact: kare, kao ga hiroi kara. Nothing to do with a big face (kao ga ookii).
kare, kao ga hiroi kara kiite miru yo.
He knows everyone, I'll ask him.
彼、顔が広いから聞いてみるよ。
kare wa kao ga hiroi node, kiite mimasu ne.
He knows everyone, so I'll ask him.
彼は顔が広いので、聞いてみますね。
Written 顔が広い · かおがひろいHeard 11× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside seken wa semaiMain list -kara (Stage 1), -te miru (Stage 1)
en o kiru
polite en o kirimasu
“cut the bond”
break off with, disown
In English: cut ties with someone
Breaking off for good with family, an ex, a toxic friend or a gang, often oya to en o kitta or ano hito to wa mou en o kitta. Far stronger than kyori o oku (keeping your distance).
Also te o kiru (break off with a partner or associate).
ano hito to wa mou en kitta kara.
I've cut ties with her.
あの人とはもう縁切ったから。
ano hito to wa, mou en o kirimashita.
I've cut ties with her.
あの人とは、もう縁を切りました。
Written 縁を切る · えんをきるHeard 56× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside en ga aruMain list mou (Stage 1), -kara (Stage 1)
en ga aru
polite goen ga arimasu
“there is a tie (of fate)”
be meant to be, have a connection
In English: meant to be
Heard most in the negative to soften a breakup, rejection or failed job hunt: en ga nakatta n da yo (it just wasn't meant to be). Polite speech says goen, as in the business goodbye mata goen ga areba (if our paths cross again). Also en ga nai for things that never come your way: okane ni wa en ga nai.
On a chance meeting: kore mo nanika no en (this must be fate).
kanojo to wa en ga nakatta n da yo.
It just wasn't meant to be with her.
彼女とは縁がなかったんだよ。
kanojo to wa, goen ga nakatta n desu yo.
It just wasn't meant to be with her.
彼女とは、ご縁がなかったんですよ。
Written 縁がある · えんがあるHeard 40× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside en o kiruMain list aru (Stage 1), -nai (Stage 1), n da yo (Stage 3)
seken wa semai
polite seken wa semai desu
“society is narrow”
it's a small world
In English: small world
Said on finding a mutual friend or bumping into someone unexpectedly, almost always with ne. Younger speakers also say sekai wa semai.
Variant: sekai wa semai.
e, kare to shiriai na no? seken wa semai ne.
Wait, you know him? Small world.
え、彼と知り合いなの？世間は狭いね。
e, kare to oshiriai na n desu ka? seken wa semai desu ne.
Oh, you know him? Small world.
え、彼とお知り合いなんですか？世間は狭いですね。
Written 世間は狭い · せけんはせまいHeard 20× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kao ga hiroiMain list ne (Stage 1)