expression, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. means of making a living, source of income, bread and butter, livelihood.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
飯の種 めしのたね

Contained Kanji Breakdown

meal, boiled rice
めし ハン いい (4th, N4)
eat, food, eat radical (no. 184)
person
ひと ニン ジン (1st, N5)
good, pleasing, skilled
よ.い リョウ ら (4th, N3)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
northeast (Oriental zodiac), stopping, good radical (no. 138)
うしとら コン (Kentei Pre-1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ にっ ニチ (1st, N5)
garment, clothes, dressing
イ ころも きぬ (4th, N2)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
garment(衣) variant
anti-
ハン タン そり (3rd, N3)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン かりがね (Kentei 1)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また ユウ やす (8th, N1)
species, kind, class
シュ たね -ぐさ (4th, N3)
two-branch tree radical (no. 115)
カ いね (Kentei Pre-1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
heavy, important, esteem
ジュウ おも.い かさ.ねる (3rd, N4)
thousand
セン ち かず (1st, N5)
ri, village, parent's home
さと リ さ (2nd)
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)