expression

  1. ending up right back where one started.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
元の木阿弥 もとのもくあみ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

beginning, former time, origin
ゲン もと ガン (2nd, N4)
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ ふた ふだ (1st, N5)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン ニン がい (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
Africa, flatter, fawn upon
おもね.る ア あわ (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
can, passable, approval
カ コク -べ.き (5th)
street, ward, town
チョウ テイ チン (3rd, N1)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
all the more, increasingly
や ミ ビ (11th, N1)
bow, bow (archery, violin)
ゆみ キュウ こ (2nd, N1)
you, that
ジ ニ なんじ (Kentei 1)
person(人) variant
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)