三行半みくだりはん

noun

letter of divorce; declaration of separation

Historical term for a brief divorce notice a husband could give his wife during the Edo period; literally 'three and a half lines'. Now used figuratively or in historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、夫おっとが妻つまに三行半みくだりはんを渡わたせば離り婚こんが成せい立りつした。

  In the Edo period, if a husband handed his wife a mikudarihan, the divorce was finalized.

noun

breakup; separation; severing of a relationship

Modern figurative extension: ending a non-marital relationship, often with a nuance of a unilateral or abrupt break. Can be used for romantic, business, or personal ties.

• 彼かの女じょから突とつ然ぜんの三行半みくだりはんを突つきつけられた。

  She suddenly handed me a breakup notice.

• 取とり引ひき先さきから三行半みくだりはんを言いい渡わたされた。

  We were given a notice of termination by our business partner.