一筋縄では行かない

Japanese

Kanji in this term
一	筋	縄	行
ひと Grade: 1	すじ Grade: 6	なわ Grade: 4	い Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
一筋繩では行かない (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Phrase consisting of 一筋縄 (hito suji nawa, “a piece of rope”) + では (de wa, “indicates means of action”) + 行かない (ikanai, “can't proceed”). Literally "can't proceed with a piece of rope".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [çito̞sɨʑi na̠β̞a̠ de̞ β̞a̠ ika̠na̠i]

Proverb

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)では行(い)かない • (hitosujinawa de wa ikanai) 

1. not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means

Alternative forms

• 一筋縄(ひとすじなわ)で行(い)かない (hitosujinawa de ikanai)
• 一筋縄(ひとすじなわ)じゃ行(い)かない (hitosujinawa ja ikanai)
• 一筋縄(ひとすじなわ)で行(い)かぬ (hitosujinawa de ikanu, rare)
• 一筋縄(ひとすじなわ)では行(い)かぬ (hitosujinawa de wa ikanu, rare)