expression, noun

  1. dirt under one's fingernails.
  2. shred (of decency, etc.), scrap, bit, smidgen. Idiomatic expression.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
爪の垢 つめのあか

Contained Kanji Breakdown

claw, nail, talon
つめ つま- ソウ (11th)
dirt, grime, earwax
ク あか コウ (Kentei Pre-1)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)
empress, queen, after
きさき コウ ゴ (6th, N1)
corpse(尸) variant
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)