九きゅう仞じん

noun

great height

Literary and rare; almost exclusively encountered in the classical idiom 九仞の功を一簣に虧く (to fail at the last step after a long effort). The word itself refers to a height of nine 仞 (an ancient unit of length), symbolizing a towering achievement.

See also: 九仞の功を一簣に虧く

• 「きゅうじんのこうをいっきにかく」ということわざを知しっていますか。

  Do you know the proverb 'to ruin the work of nine 仞 with one basketful of earth'?