元の木阿弥

もとのもくあみ

Meanings

1. Expression ending up right back where one started

Kanji

• 元 source. Read as もと.
• 木 tree. Read as モク.
• 阿 Africa; flatter; fawn upon
• 弥 ever more. Read as ミ.

Example sentences

• ここで中断したら元の木阿弥だぞっ。
  If we stop here, we'll be right back where we started!

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists