こう
後
もん
門
　
の
とら
虎
ぜん
前
もん
門
　
の
おおかみ
狼

expression

Idiomatic expression.
  1. between the devil and the deep sea, out of the frying pan into the fire.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
こう
後
もん
門
　
の
とら
虎
ぜん
前
もん
門
　
の
おおかみ
狼
 後門の虎前門の狼 こうもんのとらぜんもんのおおかみ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

behind, back, later
ゴ　のち　コウ (2nd, N5)
stop, linger, loiter
テキ　たたず.む (Kentei 1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
human radical (no. 9)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
late, delayed, winter radical (no. 34)
チ　しゅう (Kentei 1)
gate, counter for cannons
モン　かど　と (2nd, N2)
tiger, drunkard
とら　コ　たけ (11th, N1)
tiger spots, mottled, tiger or tiger crown radical (no. 141)
コ (Kentei 1)
divining, fortune-telling, divination or katakana to radical (no. 25)
ボク　うらな.う　うらない (Kentei Pre-1)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン　かりがね (Kentei 1)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン　ニン　がい (Kentei 1)
in front, before
まえ　ゼン　さき (2nd, N5)
grass, straw, herbs
to divide
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
cutting off feet as form of punishment
ゲツ　グチ　ゴツ
month, moon
つき　ゲツ　ガツ (1st, N5)
knife, standing sword radical (no. 18)
トウ
wolf
おおかみ　ロウ (Kentei Pre-1)
dog(犬) variant
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