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Proverbs

Japanese meaning of 堪忍袋の緒が切れる

かんにんぶくろのおがきれる (Kanninbukuro no o ga kireru)

English Translation:

The cord of the patience bag snaps / To run out of patience

Scene:

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

After putting up with something for a long time, you can no longer hold back your anger.
日本語で読む
がまんにがまんを重ねてきたが、とうとうこらえきれずに怒ること。

Cultural Context:

It is often said as 堪忍袋の緒が切れた, when someone finally gets angry after being patient for a long time.
日本語で読む
「堪忍袋の緒が切れた」の形で、長いあいだがまんしてきた人がついに怒るときによく使います。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

•「堪忍」= patience, putting up with something. •「袋」= a bag. •「緒」= a cord or string.
日本語で読む
•「堪忍」はがまんすること。•「袋」はふくろ。•「緒」はひものこと。

Trap for English Speakers

緒 is read お here. It means anger after long patience, not getting angry quickly over small things.
日本語で読む
「緒」はここでは「お」と読みます。すぐに怒ることではなく、長くがまんしたすえに怒ることを表します。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 何度言っても約束を守らない弟に、とうとう堪忍袋の緒が切れた。

    My brother kept breaking his promises no matter how many times I told him, and I finally ran out of patience.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 弟子の手裏剣が百回目も盆栽に命中し、ついに師匠の堪忍袋の緒が切れた。

    When his apprentice's shuriken hit the bonsai for the hundredth time, the master finally ran out of patience.

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Quick check

Meaning

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