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腐れ縁 (くされえん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
inseparable relationship (undesirable) ; hard-to-break bond
Refers to a relationship that is difficult to sever despite being unwanted, often due to shared history, obligation, or bad luck. Carries a negative, resigned tone.
腐くさ れ 縁えん の 友とも 達だち って 、 なんだかんだ で 長なが く 続つづ く よ ね 。
Friends you can't seem to shake off, for better or worse, tend to last a long time.
Written forms 腐くさ れ 縁えん Usage 86%
くされ 縁えん Usage 14%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, also common.
Kanji 縁 affinity, relation, connection Similar words 縁えん A neutral or positive bond or connection. 腐れ縁 adds a negative, unwanted nuance.
悪あく 縁えん A bad or harmful relationship, often implying active misfortune. 腐れ縁 emphasizes the difficulty of breaking the bond rather than its harmfulness.
Etymology Compound of 腐れ (kusare, 'rotten, spoiled') and 縁 (en, 'bond, connection'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term figuratively describes a relationship that has 'gone bad' yet remains unbreakable.
