乱らん麻ま

noun

anarchy; chaos; utter confusion

Literary or formal term for a state of extreme disorder, like tangled hemp fibers. Often used in set phrases such as 乱麻の如し (like tangled hemp).

• 戦せん後ごの社しゃ会かいは乱らん麻まの如ごとき混こん乱らんに陥おちいった。

  Postwar society fell into chaos like tangled hemp.

• 彼かれの机つくえの上うえはまさに乱らん麻まの状じょう態たいだ。

  His desk is in a state of utter confusion.