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Japanese

はらをくくる
Meaning: to steel oneself; to brace oneself for a difficult outcome
Part of Speech: Verb, Idiom

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Verb inflections

Verb inflections
Form Affirmative Negative
Present 腹を括る 腹を括らない
Polite 腹を括ります 腹を括りません
Past 腹を括った 腹を括らなかった
Polite + Past 腹を括りました 腹を括りませんでした
Te-form 腹を括って 腹を括らなくて
Potential 腹を括れる 腹を括れない
Passive 腹を括られる 腹を括られない
Causative 腹を括らせる 腹を括らせない
Causative + Passive 腹を括らされる 腹を括らされない
Imperative 腹を括れ 腹を括るな

Example

彼は腹を括るしかない状況に追い込まれた。
He was forced into a situation where he had no choice but to steel himself.

Usage Notes

This idiomatic expression describes accepting a difficult reality and mentally preparing to face it.

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