九分九厘

Japanese

Kanji in this term
九	分	九	厘
く Grade: 1	ぶ Grade: 2	く Grade: 1	りん Grade: S
on’yomi

Etymology

Literally, “Nine bu and nine rin”, with bu referring to ¹⁄₁₀ and rin to ¹⁄₁₀₀. Since 1 bu is 10 rin, the total 9 bu and 9 rin is equivalent to 99 rin, which here is contrasted against the remaining ¹⁄₁₀₀ (or 1 rin).

Noun

九(く)分(ぶ)九(く)厘(りん) • (kubukurin) 

1. a hundred to one, a near certainty