こんにゃく問もん答どう

こ

ん

にゃ

く

も

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ど

う

Meanings

noun

irrelevant and incoherent dialogue; meaningless debate; talking at cross purposes

idiomatic expression›yojijukugo (four-character idiom)›

Idiomatic expression describing a conversation where the participants are not engaging with each other's points, resulting in a pointless or absurd exchange. Often used humorously or critically.

あの会かい議ぎはこんにゃく問もん答どうで、何なにも決きまらなかった。

That meeting was just a meaningless debate, and nothing was decided.

彼かれらの議ぎ論ろんはこんにゃく問もん答どうに終しゅう始しした。

Their discussion was nothing but an incoherent dialogue from start to finish.

Kanji

問question, ask, problem
答solution, answer
蒟devil's tongue (plant)
蒻a kind of water plant

Related words

禅ぜん問もん答どう
禅問答 refers to a Zen dialogue or koan, which may seem paradoxical but has a spiritual purpose, whereas こんにゃく問答 implies a pointless, illogical exchange without deeper meaning.
水みず掛かけ論ろん
水掛け論 is a back-and-forth argument where neither side yields, while こんにゃく問答 emphasizes the incoherence and lack of logical connection between the speakers' points.

Written forms

こんにゃく問もん答どう
Standard spelling; the kanji 問答 (dialogue) is clear, while こんにゃく is written in kana for readability.
蒟こん蒻にゃく問もん答どう
Full kanji spelling using 蒟蒻 for こんにゃく; rarely used in modern writing.

Etymology

From the rakugo story こんにゃく問答, in which a konjac seller posing as a priest exchanges silent gestures with a visiting monk; each interprets the gestures differently, producing an accidental semblance of profound dialogue.