Proverb / Kotowaza
伝家の宝刀
A trump card or last resort reserved for critical moments.
a family's heirloom sword
Quick Answer
A trump card or last resort reserved for critical moments.
- Literal Image
- a family's heirloom sword
- How to Use It
- Used when someone brings out a decisive argument, a secret plan, or a special skill to resolve a difficult situation that has reached a standstill.
Meaning
Originally referring to a precious sword passed down through generations in a family, this expression describes a final solution or "ace up one's sleeve." It refers to a powerful method or tool that is kept in reserve and only used when all other options have failed and a decisive move is required.
Literal Image
a family's heirloom sword
How to Use It
Used when someone brings out a decisive argument, a secret plan, or a special skill to resolve a difficult situation that has reached a standstill.
Tone
Carries a sense of weight and importance, as it refers to a resource that should not be used lightly.
Examples
交渉が行き詰まると、社長は伝家の宝刀を抜いて価格交渉を有利に進めた。
When negotiations stalled, the president brought out his trump card to push the price talks in his favor.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The individual kanji are accessible, but the four-character compound is an idiomatic expression rooted in source context.
伝家
でんか / denka
passed down in a family
宝刀
ほうとう / hoto
treasured sword
切り札
きりふだ / kirifuda
trump card
Usage Profile
Usage note: Do not use this for ordinary tools; it specifically refers to a final resource kept for emergencies.
Misread Risk
While the literal words refer to a sword, the modern usage is purely metaphorical for any decisive strategy or advantage.
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Origin
In samurai families, certain precious swords were passed down as family treasures (kaho). These swords were kept safely stored and were only drawn and used in times of extreme emergency or critical importance. This practice evolved into the metaphor for a secret weapon or final resource.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.