糸電話

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 糸電話, read いとでんわ, and it combines 糸, meaning string, with 電話, meaning telephone.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 糸電話 is a string telephone made by connecting two cups or containers with a taut string that carries sound vibrations.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Sound carried by string vibration
  • Both examples use the form 糸電話. It is a simple toy or experiment using cups and string, not an electrical communication device.
• Making and testing the device
  • 紙コップと長い糸で糸電話を作った。 — We made a string telephone from paper cups and a long string.
  • 子どもたちは廊下の端と端で糸電話を試した。 — The children tested the string telephone from opposite ends of the hallway.