PhraseNinja

Yojijukugo

Japanese meaning of 二人三脚

ににんさんきゃく (ninin sankyaku)

English Translation:

Working hand in hand

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Literally “two people, three legs”; two people working closely together toward the same goal.
日本語で読む
二人が歩調を合わせ、協力して物事を進めること。

Cultural Context:

From the three-legged race at school sports days, where two runners tie their inside legs together. It may also be used for married couples, business partners, or a coach and an athlete.
日本語で読む
運動会などで、二人が隣り合う足を結んで走る競技に由来する。夫婦や仕事の相棒、監督と選手などの関係に使うこともある。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Noun phrase; often “二人三脚で” or “二人三脚の歩み.”
日本語で読む
• 「〜で取り組む」「〜の歩み」の形で使うことが多い。

Trap for English Speakers

三脚 here is not a camera tripod; it means the three legs two people have when tied together. 二人 is read ににん, not ふたり.
日本語で読む
「三脚」はカメラの三脚ではなく、二人の足を結んで三本になった足のこと。「二人」は「ふたり」ではなく「ににん」と読む。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 母と二人三脚で、小さなパン屋を開いた。

    Working hand in hand with my mother, I opened a small bakery.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 忍の師匠と弟子は二人三脚で、敵の城へ忍び込む策を練った。

    The ninja master and his student worked hand in hand on a plan to sneak into the enemy castle.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「二人三脚」 mean?

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