蟻の門渡り

Japanese edit

Kanji in this term
蟻	門	渡
あり Hyōgaiji	と Grade: 2	わた Grade: S
kun’yomi

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): [a̠ɾʲi no̞ to̞ ɰᵝa̠ta̠ɾʲi]

Noun edit

蟻(あり)の門(と)渡(わた)り • (ari no to watari)

perineum
Synonyms: 会陰 (ein), 会陰部 (einbu)
a narrow pass, a precipice
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 蟻,‎ 門,‎ 渡る.

Usage notes edit

Literally “ants’ passage”, the phrase appears in nature poetry from the 12th century referring to lines of ants walking on the ground. The popular sense “perineum” alludes to an 18th century work by Hiraga Gennai about lice crossing the “valley of the underwear” (褌(ふんどし)谷(たに) (fundoshi-tani)).^[1]

References edit

^ “蟻門渡”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000

[1] “蟻門渡”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000

[1]