つなぎ
Meanings
General term for something that connects or ties things together, physically or abstractly.
I act as a liaison between the two parties.
This pipe is used to connect the water supply.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
stopgap; filler; temporary measure
Something used temporarily to fill a gap, such as a stopgap job, budget, or placeholder.
My current job is just a stopgap; it's not what I really want to do.
We managed to get by with a stopgap budget.
thickener; thickening agent; liaison
In cooking, an ingredient used to thicken sauces, soups, or bind mixtures; also used figuratively for something that binds or mediates.
I use flour as a thickener to give the curry some body.
I add breadcrumbs as a binder for the hamburger patties.
Kabuki term: a break or interlude between acts; rare outside this context.
We had a light meal during the kabuki intermission.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉のつなぎにするto use something as a stopgap until 〈事〉 happens
I plan to use this job as a stopgap until I find my next position.
- 〈物〉につなぎを入れるto add a thickening/binding agent to a dish
You add egg and breadcrumbs as a binder to hamburger patties.
- つなぎを打つto take a hedge position (in finance)
I put on a hedge before the market dropped.
- つなぎを着るto wear overalls/coveralls
All the factory workers wear coveralls while working.