三さん百びゃく代だい言げん

さ

ん

びゃ

く

だ

い

げ

ん

Meanings

1

shyster; unscrupulous lawyer; pettifogger

derogatoryyojijukugo (four-character idiom)

Derogatory term for a lawyer who uses dishonest or petty tactics. Often used in historical or literary contexts.

あの弁べん護ご士しはまるで三さん百びゃく代だい言げんだ。
That lawyer is nothing but a shyster.

2

sophist; casuist

Rare extended use for someone who uses clever but misleading arguments, not limited to legal contexts.

彼かれの議ぎ論ろんは三さん百びゃく代だい言げんのような詭き弁べんに過すぎない。
His argument is nothing more than sophistry like that of a casuist.