綱引き

綱曳き

Reading

Kana: つなひき

Romaji: tsunahiki

Definitions

noun

1

tug of war (orig. a form of divination to predict whether the year will be favourable or unfavourable)

2

forward puller (of a rickshaw)

Kanji

綱

Readings: コウ、 つな

Meanings: hawser, class (genus), rope, cord, cable

引

Readings: イン、 ひ.く、 ひ.き、 ひ.き-、 -び.き、 ひ.ける

Meanings: pull, tug, jerk, admit, install, quote, refer to

曳

Readings: エイ、 ひ.く

Meanings: pull, tug, jerk, admit, install, quote, refer to

Example Sentences

国会(こっかい)の動(うご)きはこの問題(もんだい)をめぐる与野党間(よやとうかん)の政治的(せいじてき)綱引(つなひ)きとなった。

➥Parliamentary activity has become a political tug of war between the ruling and opposition parties over the issue.

「委員長(いいんちょう)、後(のち)は何(なに)を運(はこ)ぶんだっけ？」「得点板(とくてんばん)と大玉(おおだま)もう一(いち)個(こ)、綱引(つなひ)きの綱(つな)」

➥"Mr Chairman, what needs moving next, again?" "Scoreboard, giant ball and the tug-of-war rope."