二に本ほん棒ぼう

noun

simpleton; henpecked husband; sniveler

Derogatory term for a weak, ineffectual man, especially one dominated by his wife. The image is of a person who can be beaten with two sticks and still not fight back.

• あの男おとこは完かん全ぜんに二に本ほん棒ぼうで、妻つまに頭あたまが上あがらない。

  That guy is a total henpecked husband; he can't stand up to his wife.

noun

two-sworded samurai

Historical term for a samurai who wore two swords (long and short), as was customary for the warrior class. Rare and archaic outside historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、二に本ほん棒ぼうは武ぶ士しの身み分ぶんを示しめすものだった。

  In the Edo period, the two-sworded samurai was a mark of warrior status.