むい
六
か
日
　
の
あやめ
菖蒲

expression, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. something that comes too late to be useful, iris (blooming) on the 6th (i.e. one day too late for the Boy's Day celebration).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
むい
六
か
日
　
の
あやめ
菖蒲
 六日の菖蒲 むいかのあやめ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

six
ロク　ろっ　むっ.つ (1st, N5)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
iris
ショウ (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
prosperous, bright, clear
ショウ　さかん　まさ (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
bullrush, flag, cattail
フ　ホ　かば (Kentei Pre-1)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
bay, creek, inlet
うら　ホ (9th, N1)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
for the first time, not until
ホ　フ　はじ.めて (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
ten
ジュウ　ジッ　ジュッ (1st, N5)
month, moon
つき　ゲツ　ガツ (1st, N5)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)