ひも
Meanings
General term for a thin, flexible cord or string used for tying or fastening.
Please tie the box with this string.
Specifically a cord used to lead an animal, such as a dog leash.
I walk the dog on a leash.
gigolo; kept man; pimp
Colloquial term for a man who lives off a woman's earnings; often written in katakana as ヒモ.
He lives like a kept man off his girlfriend.
restrictions; conditions; strings attached
Used in expressions like ひも付き (with strings attached) to indicate conditions or limitations.
There are strings attached to that aid.
Biological term for the mantle of shellfish and similar organisms.
The mantle of a shellfish is the part called the pallium.
small intestine (beef/pork); oviduct meat (chicken)
Culinary term for offal: beef/pork small intestine or chicken oviduct, often used in yakitori or hot pot.
The chicken oviduct in yakitori has a crunchy texture and is delicious.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を紐で結ぶto tie/fasten something with a string
I tied the package with a string.
- 〈動物〉に紐をつけるto attach a leash to an animal
I put a leash on the dog and went for a walk.
- 〈人〉の紐になるto become someone's kept man/gigolo
He doesn't work and lives off his girlfriend as her gigolo.
- 〈事〉に紐がつくfor there to be conditions or restrictions attached to something
This grant comes with strings attached.
- 紐を通すto thread a string through something
I threaded a string through the beads to make a necklace.