一筋
ひとすじ
1. a single line, streak or ray (of); 2. single-mindedly devoted to one thing
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
涙が一筋頬を流れた。
なみだがひとすじほおをながれた。
A single tear ran down her cheek.
遠くに一筋の光が見えた。
とおくにひとすじのひかりがみえた。
A single ray of light appeared in the distance.
彼は研究一筋の人生を送った。
かれはけんきゅうひとすじのじんせいをおくった。
He devoted his whole life to his research.
Common patterns
- 一筋の涙
- a single tear
- 仕事一筋
- married to one's work
- 一筋縄ではいかない
- not to be dealt with in the ordinary way
Memory tip
筋 counts long thin things, so 一筋 is one streak — of tears, light, smoke, or a road. Placed after a noun it means a life given to that and nothing else: 野球一筋, 母一筋.
Kanji in this word
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What does 一筋 mean?