Menu toggle
This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

一筋縄では行かない

一筋縄ではいかない

Reading

Kana: ひとすじなわではいかない
Romaji: hitosujinawadehaikanai
Kana
Romaji

Definition

exp
1

not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means

See also: 一筋縄

Kanji

一
Readings: イチ、 イツ、 ひと-、 ひと.つ
Meanings: one, one radical (no.1)
筋
Readings: キン、 すじ
Meanings: muscle, sinew, tendon, fiber, plot, plan, descent
縄
Readings: ジョウ、 なわ、 ただ.す
Meanings: straw rope, cord
行
Readings: コウ、 ギョウ、 アン、 い.く、 ゆ.く、 -ゆ.き、 -ゆき、 -い.き、 -いき、 おこな.う、 おこ.なう
Meanings: going, journey, carry out, conduct, act, line, row, bank

Example Sentence

先(さき)の時間(じかん)に居眠(いねむ)りした分(ぶん)も合(あ)わせて、今度(こんど)の試験(しけん)はどうも一筋縄(ひとすじなわ)ではいかない感(かん)じが漂(ただよ)っている。
➥Taking into account the time I'd just spent napping, I'm really picking up the sense that this time's exam really won't be straight forward.
Full Entry➤