Translation guide
This English idiom means to go from a bad situation to an even worse one. Japanese has several equivalent proverbs and expressions, ranging from classical sayings to modern casual phrases.
Express that escaping one problem leads to an even bigger problem.
A common proverb meaning 'one misfortune leaves and another comes.' It directly captures the idea of going from one trouble to another.
やっと仕事が見つかったと思ったら、今度は上司が最悪だ。一難去ってまた一難だよ。
I thought I finally found a job, but now my boss is terrible. Out of the frying pan into the fire.
A classical Chinese-origin proverb: 'a tiger at the front gate, a wolf at the back gate.' It vividly illustrates escaping one danger only to face another.
あの会社を辞めたのはいいが、次の職場はもっとブラックだ。まさに前門の虎、後門の狼だ。
It was good to quit that company, but the next workplace is even more exploitative. Truly out of the frying pan into the fire.
A colloquial, slightly humorous phrase: 'from the first block of hell to the second block.' It implies the situation is still hell, just a different part.
彼氏と別れてせいせいしたけど、新しい彼氏はもっとひどい。地獄の一丁目から二丁目へって感じ。
I felt relieved after breaking up with my boyfriend, but the new one is even worse. It's like out of the frying pan into the fire.
A less common proverb: 'from the fire into the water.' It conveys a similar meaning but is not as widely used as the others.
戦争から逃れてきたのに、今度は飢餓に苦しんでいる。火の中から水の中へだ。
We fled the war, but now we suffer from famine. Out of the frying pan into the fire.
Japanese proverbs are often used in set phrases. You can simply state the proverb after describing the situation, or use it with ～という感じ (it's like ~) or まさに～だ (it's truly ~).