1.
ordinary means; simple method (almost always used in the negative)
Refers to a straightforward or conventional approach. Almost exclusively used in the pattern 一筋縄ではいかない, meaning something cannot be handled in the usual way.
一筋縄ではいかない。
It's not that simple.
あの人は一筋縄ではいかない相手だ。
That person is not an easy opponent to deal with.
この問題は一筋縄ではいかないので、慎重に対応する必要がある。
This problem can't be handled in the usual way, so we need to deal with it carefully.
Literally means "a single strand of rope," evoking the image of trying to tie something up with just one rope — insufficient for a difficult task. Almost always appears in the set phrase 一筋縄ではいかない (cannot be dealt with by ordinary means). Using it outside this negative pattern is extremely rare.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 一筋縄ではいかない: can't be handled simply
- 一筋縄ではいかない問題: a problem that's not straightforward
- 一筋縄ではいかない相手: a formidable opponent
- 一筋縄ではいかない性格: a difficult personality
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 簡単ではない: not easy — a straightforward way to express difficulty
- 手強い: tough, formidable — describes a difficult opponent or challenge
- 厄介な: troublesome — emphasizes the bothersome nature of a problem
- 一筋: single-minded, dedicated — a different word despite sharing characters