帯に短し襷に長し
おびにみじかしたすきにながし
Also written 帯に短したすきに長し
Meanings
- Expression neither one thing nor the other (literally: too short for a belt, too long for a sleeve tie)
Kanji
- 帯 belt. Read as おび.
- 短 short. Read as みじかい.
- 襷 cord to hold up sleeves; (kokuji). Read as たすき.
- 長 long. Read as ながい.