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不得要領 (ふとくようりょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
na-adjective, noun
vague ; ambiguous ; noncommittal ; off-point
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Describes speech, answers, or attitudes that are unclear, evasive, or fail to get to the point. Often used with な to modify nouns or with だ/である in formal contexts.
。
His explanation was vague, and I couldn't understand what he wanted to say.
Kanji 要 need, main point, essence 領 jurisdiction, dominion, territory Similar words 曖あい 昧まい 曖昧 is a more common word for 'vague' or 'ambiguous', while 不得要領 is a formal yojijukugo often used in written or critical contexts to describe evasive or unclear communication.
要よう 領りょう を 得え ない 要領を得ない is a phrase with a similar meaning ('not to the point'), but 不得要領 is a compact four-character compound used more as a fixed expression.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 不 (not), 得 (get), 要領 (point, gist), literally 'not getting the point'. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of negating a noun phrase with 不.
