綱つな

つ

な

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

rope; cord; line

General term for a thick, strong rope or cable, often used for mooring, towing, or securing heavy objects.

船ふねを綱つなで岸きしにつないだ。
We moored the boat to the shore with a rope.
引ひっ越こしのとき、家か具ぐを綱つなで固こ定ていした。
When moving, we secured the furniture with ropes.

noun

grand champion's braided belt

sumo

Sumo term: the thick white rope belt worn by a yokozuna during the ring-entering ceremony.

横よこ綱づなが土ど俵ひょう入いりで締しめる綱つなは、神しん聖せいなものとされている。
The rope belt worn by the grand champion during the ring-entering ceremony is considered sacred.

See all 51 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉を綱つなでつなぐto tie/secure something with a rope
船ふねを綱つなで岸きしにつないだ。
We tied the boat to the shore with a rope.
綱つなを締しめるto tie on the yokozuna's ceremonial rope belt
新あたらしい横よこ綱づなが土ど俵ひょうで綱つなを締しめた。
The new grand champion tied on his ceremonial belt in the ring.
綱つなが切きれるfor a rope to snap/break
強つよい風かぜで綱つなが切きれてしまった。
The rope snapped in the strong wind.
綱つなを引ひくto pull/tug on a rope
みんなで力ちからを合あわせて綱つなを引ひいた。
Everyone pulled the rope together with all their strength.
綱つなを渡わたるto walk across a rope (tightrope)
サーカスの芸げい人にんが高たかい綱つなを渡わたった。
The circus performer walked across a high rope.

Expressions

望のぞみの綱つなone's last hope; one's only hope; the last hope
綱つなを張はるbecome a yokozuna; be a yokozuna
頼たのみの綱つなlast ray of hope; only hope

Kanji

綱hawser, class (genus), rope

Related words

縄なわN3sense 1
縄 is everyday rope made of twisted straw or fiber, while 綱 refers to a thicker, heavier-duty rope used for mooring or towing.
ロープN1sense 1
ロープ is a loanword often used for thinner, synthetic cords, whereas 綱 implies a thicker, traditional heavy-duty rope.
ひもN4sense 1
紐 refers to a thin string or cord, much thinner than the thick, sturdy rope called 綱.
舫もやい
綱 is the general word for a thick rope or cord, while 舫い specifically refers to the rope used to moor a boat.

Don't confuse with

網あみN1sense 1
網 (net, woven mesh) has a kanji almost identical to 綱 but means a completely different object made of crossed strands rather than a single thick rope.

Counted with

本ほんN5
For long, thin objects (sticks, stems, wires, bottles); also 'pieces' like films, articles, and phone calls.
筋すじN2
Used for long, thin ropes (綱), viewed as a single strand or line.

Word family· 33

横よこ綱づなN1
yokozuna; grand champion · best in its field; cream of the crop
命いのち綱づな
lifeline; safety rope; safety tether
手た綱づな
reins; bridle · control; the reins
綱つな引ひき
tug of war · forward puller (of a rickshaw)
綱つな渡わたりN1
tightrope walking; high-wire act · walking a tightrope; risky balancing act

Show 12 more

飯い綱づな
izuna; pipe fox; fox spirit kept in a bamboo tube · keeper of an izuna
綱つな手で
mooring rope
井い綱づな
well rope
大おお綱づな
thick rope; hawser · fundamental principles; outline; general features
帆ほ綱づな
halyard
碇いかり綱づな
anchor cable; anchor rope
端は綱づな
halter; lead rope
綱つな具ぐ
rigging
綱つな鳥どり
lesser cuckoo
面おも綱づな
knotted rope bridle · ceremonial rope garland
首くび綱づな
leash; tether
髪かみ綱づな
rope made of hair

See all 33 in Explore →

Written forms

綱つなUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
つなUsage3%
ツナUsage<1%

Etymology

The kanji 綱 is a phono-semantic compound: 糸 (thread) + 岡 (ridge, but here used phonetically). The reading つな is native Japanese, with uncertain deeper origin.