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微に入り細を穿つ (びにいりさいをうがつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-tsu)
go into minute details ; split hairs
Idiomatic expression meaning to examine or describe something in extremely fine detail, often excessively so. Can carry a nuance of being overly meticulous or pedantic.
よう
な
議ぎ
論ろん
は
避さ
けよう
。
Let's avoid splitting hairs in the discussion.
Written forms 微び に 入い り 細さい を 穿うが つ
Standard kanji form for this idiomatic expression.
微び に 入い り 細さい をうがつ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; the verb 穿つ is written in kana.
Kanji 微 delicate, minuteness, insignificance 穿 put on (to the feet), dig, pierce Similar words 細こま かい 細かい is a common adjective meaning 'detailed' or 'fine', while 微に入り細を穿つ is a set phrase emphasizing exhaustive, often excessive, attention to detail.
枝し 葉よう 末まっ 節せつ 枝葉末節 refers to 'minor details' or 'trivialities', whereas 微に入り細を穿つ describes the action of delving into such details.
Etymology A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) combining 微 (minute), 入り (entering), 細 (fine), and 穿つ (to dig into/pierce), literally 'entering the minute and piercing the fine'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows classical Chinese-influenced phrasing.
