蟻の門渡り

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

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [a̠ɾʲi no̞ to̞ ɰᵝa̠ta̠ɾʲi]

Noun

蟻(あり)の門(と)渡(わた)り • (ari no to watari) 

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

Usage notes

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