Translation guide
This idiom describes self-destructive actions taken out of anger or a desire for revenge, where the harm to oneself outweighs any harm to the target. Japanese expresses this idea through proverbs and set phrases rather than a single direct equivalent.
To express that someone is harming themselves in an attempt to hurt someone else, or acting against their own interests out of spite.
A common proverb meaning 'haste makes waste' or 'anger leads to loss.' It warns that acting rashly out of anger will result in one's own disadvantage. Often used when someone's impulsive reaction hurts themselves more than the target.
彼に腹を立てて仕事を辞めるなんて、短気は損気だよ。
Quitting your job just because you're mad at him is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Literally 'to strangle oneself.' A figurative expression meaning to do something that will backfire and cause trouble for oneself. It emphasizes the self-destructive nature of the action, often used when someone's plan or reaction ends up harming them.
そんなことをしたら、自分の首を絞めることになるよ。
If you do that, you'll just be cutting off your nose to spite your face.
A proverb meaning 'lose to win' or 'take a loss to gain a profit.' It advises accepting a small loss now for a larger gain later. It can be used to contrast with the idiom, implying that one should not be so stubborn as to cause greater loss.
損して得取れというから、ここは我慢したほうがいい。
They say 'lose to win,' so you should be patient here instead of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Japanese often avoids direct confrontation and values harmony, so the idea of self-destructive revenge is usually framed as a warning against rash anger or stubbornness rather than a vivid image of self-mutilation. Proverbs like 短気は損気 are more common and natural than a literal translation.
Translating 'cut off one's nose to spite one's face' literally into Japanese (e.g., 顔を傷つけるために鼻を切り落とす) would be confusing and unnatural. Use the proverbs or phrases above instead.