命綱(いのちづな)

いのちづな
noun
lifeline; safety rope
tool
1. lifeline; safety rope; safety harness
A rope or line attached to a person working at heights or in dangerous conditions to prevent fatal falls.
命綱(いのちづな)をつける。
To put on a safety harness.
高(たか)い場所(ばしょ)で作業(さぎょう)するときは命綱(いのちづな)が必須(ひっす)だ。
A safety rope is essential when working at heights.
命綱(いのちづな)なしで崖(がけ)を登(のぼ)るのは危険(きけん)すぎる。
Climbing the cliff without a safety rope is far too dangerous.
2. lifeline (figurative); last resort; only hope
Something essential that one depends on for survival or success.
この仕事(しごと)が命綱(いのちづな)だ。
This job is my lifeline.
奨学金(しょうがくきん)が学生(がくせい)にとっての命綱(いのちづな)だった。
The scholarship was a lifeline for the student.
最後(さいご)の命綱(いのちづな)を失(うしな)ったら、もう後(あと)がない。
If I lose my last lifeline, there's nothing left to fall back on.

Usage

命綱(いのちづな) is used both literally for safety equipment and figuratively for anything one depends on for survival. The figurative use is very common in everyday conversation.

Common collocations

Forms

命(いのち) (life) + 綱(つな) (rope) → lifeline. The つ becomes づ due to rendaku.

Related Words

Compare: 安全帯(あんぜんたい) (safety belt)
general
Added 2026.3.6 21:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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