1.
white flag; flag of surrender
A plain white flag used as a symbol of surrender, truce, or ceasefire. Also used figuratively to mean giving up.
白旗を上げる。
To raise a white flag.
敵が白旗を振って降伏した。
The enemy waved a white flag and surrendered.
あまりにも難しい問題だったので、白旗を上げてしまった。
The problem was so difficult that I gave up.
Figurative use meaning "to give up."
白旗 is a white flag used as a universal symbol of surrender, truce, or ceasefire. It is also used figuratively in everyday Japanese to mean giving up or admitting defeat. The word can also be read しろはた, but しらはた is the standard reading.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 白旗を上げる: to raise a white flag; to surrender
- 白旗を振る: to wave a white flag
The expression 白旗を上げる is frequently used figuratively to mean giving up on a task or challenge.
RELATED:
- 赤旗: red flag (danger signal, or the communist flag)
- 旗印: banner; rallying symbol