Japanese meaning of 快刀乱麻
Reading:
かいとうらんま (kaitō ranma)
English Translation:
To solve a complicated problem with decisive skill.
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Resolving a complex problem quickly and skillfully.
Cultural Context:
From Chinese classics, describing "a sharp sword cutting through tangled hemp." It is a metaphor for decisively untangling complicated issues.
複雑な問題を素早く見事に解決すること。
中国古典に由来し、「鋭い刀で乱れた麻を断ち切る」ことから、複雑な問題を即座に解決する比喩として用いられる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “を断つ” or “を解く” to indicate solving a problem (“乱麻を断つ”).
• Often combined with adverbs like “見事に” for emphasis.
Trap for English Speakers
Learners may misinterpret "乱麻" as actual hemp fibers instead of "tangled problems".
Example
Basic Example
彼は複雑な問題を快刀乱麻のごとく解決した。
He solved the complex problem as swiftly as cutting through tangled threads with a sharp sword.
Applied Example
複雑な問題を快刀乱麻を断つように一手で解決した。
He solved the complicated problem in one move, like cutting a tangled knot with a sharp blade.