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重箱の隅をほじくる (じゅうばこのすみをほじくる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

重じゅう箱ばこの隅すみをほじくる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

nitpick; complain about trifles

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to find fault with minor details or to complain about trivial matters. Often used critically to describe someone who focuses on insignificant flaws.

See also: 重箱の隅をつつく

彼かれはいつも重じゅう箱ばこの隅すみをほじくるようなことばかり言いう。
He always says things that are just nitpicking.

そんな重じゅう箱ばこの隅すみをほじくるような指し摘てきはやめてください。

Please stop making such nitpicky remarks.

Kanji

重heavy, important, esteem
箱box, chest, case
隅corner, nook

Similar words

重じゅう箱ばこの隅すみをつつく
Synonymous expression with the same meaning; つつく (to poke) is used instead of ほじくる (to pick at). Both are interchangeable.

Etymology

Literally 'to pick at the corners of a tiered food box'. The image is of someone fussing over the hard-to-reach corners of a 重箱 (jūbako), a traditional stacked container, implying unnecessary attention to trivial details.