三みつ巴どもえ

み

つ

ど

も

え

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

three-comma emblem; mitsudomoe symbol

A traditional Japanese emblem consisting of three comma-shaped figures (tomoe) arranged in a circle. Often associated with Shinto shrines, samurai crests, and taiko drums.

神じん社じゃの太たい鼓こには三みつ巴どもえの紋もんが描えがかれている。
The shrine's taiko drum has a mitsudomoe crest painted on it.
三みつ巴どもえは、琉りゅう球きゅう王おう家けの紋もん章しょうとしても使つかわれた。
The mitsudomoe was also used as the crest of the Ryukyu royal family.

noun

three-way fight; three-cornered struggle

Metaphorical extension from the emblem: a contest or conflict involving three evenly matched parties. Common in politics, sports, and business.

選せん挙きょは与よ党とうと二に大だい野や党とうによる三みつ巴どもえの戦たたかいになった。
The election turned into a three-way battle between the ruling party and the two major opposition parties.
優ゆう勝しょう争あらそいは三みつ巴どもえの様よう相そうを呈ていしている。
The race for the championship is shaping up to be a three-way struggle.

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Expressions

三みつ巴どもえの戦たたかいthree-way playoff for the tournament championship

Kanji

三three
巴comma-design

Related words

巴ともえ
巴 refers to a single comma-shaped figure or the pattern itself. 三つ巴 specifically denotes three such figures arranged in a circle, and by extension a three-way contest.
三みつ巴どもえ戦せん
A more explicit compound meaning 'three-way battle', often used in sports or games. 三つ巴 alone can carry the same meaning but is more concise.

Word family

三みつ巴どもえ戦せん
three-way playoff for the tournament win

Written forms

三みつ巴どもえUsage85%
Standard kanji spelling for both the emblem and the metaphorical three-way struggle.
三みつどもえUsage15%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still encountered.

Etymology

Compound of 三つ (mitsu, 'three') and 巴 (tomoe, 'comma-shaped figure'). The emblem's origin is uncertain, but it has been used in Japan since ancient times, appearing on artifacts from the Jōmon period. The metaphorical sense of a three-way struggle derives from the balanced, circular arrangement of the three tomoe.