Kirifuda (切り札 - Trump)

Kirifuda

Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term 'denka no houtou' (伝家の宝刀), which means a measure of last resort that you use in an emergency.

There is another Japanese term that has a similar meaning, 'kirifuda' (切り札).

'Kiri' (切り) means "cut," 'fuda' (札) means "card," and 'kirifuda' was originally used to mean the strongest card in card games.

As you can guess, the strongest card is a measure/thing that you can use in an emergency.

There are several theories about its etymology, but one of them explains that it comes from the fact that the strongest card could cut other cards.

切り札

昨日は、「いざというときに出すとっておきの手段」を意味する「伝家の宝刀」という言葉を紹介しました。

「伝家の宝刀」と同様の意味を持つ言葉に、「切り札」があります。

「切り」は "cut"、「札」は "card" を意味し、「切り札」はもともと、カードゲームなどで最も強い力を持つカードのことを表していました。

最も強い力を持つカードは、いざというときに出すとっておきの物・手段というわけです。

「切り札」の語源は諸説ありますが、ある説では「最も強い札は他の札を切るから」と説明しています。

• Kirifuda (切り札 - Trump)
• Kirifuda (切り札 - Trump Card)

I knew 切り札, but I didn’t know 伝家の宝刀. Thank you!

• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term 'denka no houtou' (伝家の宝刀), which means a measure of last resort that you use in an emergency.
• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term 'denka no houtou' (伝家の宝刀), which means a measure of last resort that you use in an emergency.

  which means taking last resort measures in an emergency.

• There is another Japanese term that has a similar meaning, 'kirifuda' (切り札).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kiri' (切り) means "cut," 'fuda' (札) means "card," and 'kirifuda' was originally used to mean the strongest card in card games.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• As you can guess, the strongest card is a measure/thing that you can use in an emergency.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

「切り札」という言葉はアニメでよく聞いていますが、何かピンチの時に「〜まだ切り札がある」みたいなセリフから何とか意味がわかるような気がしました。由来はカードゲームだなんて面白いですね。