Japanese meaning of 一刀両断
Reading:
いっとうりょうだん (ittou ryou dan)
English Translation:
Decisive action; cutting through with a single stroke
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To cut through something with a single stroke; to make a quick and decisive judgment.
Cultural Context:
Often used metaphorically for clear decision-making in debates or leadership.
一太刀で切り伏せること、または素早く決断を下すこと。
議論やリーダーシップにおいて、迷いなく決断する様子を比喩的に表す。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Verb phrase with “にする” or “で決める” to describe making a decisive judgment (“一刀両断にする”).
• Can be literal (cutting in two) or figurative (resolving firmly).
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken as physically cutting something, but in figurative use it refers to making an unambiguous decision.
Example
Basic Example
彼は一刀両断にその案を否定した。
He rejected the idea outright.
Applied Example
複雑な議論を一刀両断、迷いを断ち切るその姿に場が静まり返った。
With a single decisive cut, he ended the tangled debate, and the room fell silent.