命綱(いのちづな)

いのちづな
noun
lifeline; safety rope
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:

  • 命綱(いのちづな)をつける (to attach a safety line)
  • 命綱(いのちづな)を握(にぎ)る (to hold the lifeline)
  • 最後(さいご)の命綱(いのちづな) (last lifeline)

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

general
Added 2026.3.6 21:33
15000/15392_inochizuna