赤いわし
あ
か
い
わ
し
Meanings
1
pickled sardines; dried sardines
usually written using kana alone
Refers to sardines that have been preserved by pickling or drying, often with a reddish color. The literal meaning is 'red sardines'.
I served pickled sardines as a snack with sake.
2
rusty and blunt sword
usually written using kana alone
Figurative use comparing a neglected, rusted sword to the reddish color of dried sardines. Rare and somewhat poetic.
The old sword was rusted like a red sardine.