Dotanba (土壇場 - Critical Moment)

I don't like a situation called "dotanba" (土壇場) very much.

"Dotanba" means a critical moment or the last moment that you're required a decision.

The "do" (土) means "earthen," the "tan" (壇) means "platform," the "ba" (場) means "place," so the literal meaning of "dotanba" is "an earthen platform place."

Before the Edo period, "dotanba" was used in the literal meaning.

However, in the Edo period, criminals were made lie down on "dotanba" and were executed, so it has come to mean an execution place, and changed to the current meaning.

土壇場

私は「土壇場」があまり好きではありません。

「土壇場」は、切羽詰まった場面や、決断をせまられる最後の局面を意味します。

「土」は "earthen," 「壇」は "platform," 「場」は "place" を意味するので、「土壇場」の文字どおりの意味は "earthen platform place" のようになります。

江戸時代に入る前まで、「土壇場」は文字どおりの意味で使われていました。

しかし江戸時代に入ってからは、犯罪者を土壇場に横たわらせて首を斬っていたことから、「土壇場」は「刑場」を意味するようになり、現在の意味を持つようになりました。

• I don't like a situation called "dotanba" (土壇場) very much.
• I don't like a situation called "Dotanba" (土壇場) very much.

• "Dotanba" means a critical moment or the last moment that you're required a decision.
• "Dotanba" means a critical moment or the last moment that you're required to make a decision.

• The "do" (土) means "earthen," the "tan" (壇) means "platform," the "ba" (場) means "place," so the literal meaning of "dotanba" is "an earthen platform place."
• The "do" (土) means "earthen," the "tan" (壇) means "platform," the "ba" (場) means "place," so the literal meaning of "Dotanba" is "An earthen platform place."

• Before the Edo period, "dotanba" was used in the literal meaning.
• Before the Edo period, "Dotanba" was used in the literal meaning.

• However, in the Edo period, criminals were made lie down on "dotanba" and were executed, so it has come to mean an execution place, and changed to the current meaning.
• However, in the Edo period, criminals were made to lie down on "dotanba" and were executed, so it has come to mean an execution place, and is mostly used in that sense.