袂たもとを分わかつ

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Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

part company; break off relations; split up

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to separate the sleeves', used for ending a relationship or parting ways, often with a sense of finality.

長なが年ねん連つれ添そった友ゆう人じんと袂たもとを分わかつことになった。
I ended up parting company with a friend I had been with for many years.

意い見けんの相そう違いから、彼かれは会かい社しゃと袂たもとを分わかった。

Due to a difference of opinion, he broke off relations with the company.

Written forms

袂たもとを分わかつ
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
袂たもとを別わかつ
Alternate kanji spelling using 別つ for the verb.
たもとを分わかつ
Search-only form with kana for 袂 and 分つ.

Kanji

袂sleeve, foot (of hill), edge
分part, minute of time, segment
別separate, branch off, diverge

Similar words

別わかれる
別れる is a general verb for parting or separating, while 袂を分かつ is an idiomatic expression emphasizing a deliberate, often final, break in a relationship.
絶ぜっ交こうする
絶交する means to break off friendship or association completely, often with a stronger sense of cutting ties than 袂を分かつ, which can be used for less personal separations like leaving a company.

Etymology

Literally 'to separate the sleeves' (袂 means sleeve), from the image of two people walking side by side whose sleeves touch, and then parting ways. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a well-established idiomatic expression.