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けんをおとしてふねをきざむ
Meanings
Expression
Idiomatic
1. to not be getting with the times; to be unaware that things are changing; (lit.) to drop one's sword (in the river) and carve (a mark) on the boat (to mark the spot where the sword was dropped)
from a story in Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals
Alt. forms
剣けんを落おとして舟ふねを刻きざむ
けんをおとしてふねをきざむ
Composed of
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
dropping; losing; missing item; something one forgot to write down; cleaning; removing; trap
ship; boat; tank; tub; counter for boat-shaped containers (e.g. of sashimi)
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)