1.
one's patience, limit of endurance
Figuratively, a bag or container of patience. Almost always used in the expression 堪忍袋の緒が切れる (one's patience snaps).
堪忍袋の緒が切れた。
My patience snapped.
The most common usage of this word.
さすがに堪忍袋の緒が切れそうだ。
I'm about to lose my patience.
何度も同じミスを繰り返され、ついに堪忍袋の緒が切れた。
After the same mistake was repeated over and over, my patience finally ran out.
USAGE: Almost exclusively used in the idiom 堪忍袋の緒が切れる (literally, the string of the patience bag snaps). The image is of a drawstring bag that finally bursts open.
ETYMOLOGY: 堪忍 means patience or forbearance, and 袋 means bag. The 緒 is the string or cord that holds the bag shut.
VARIATIONS:
- 堪忍袋の緒が切れる: one's patience snaps
- 堪忍袋の緒が切れそうだ: about to lose one's patience