亡ぼう羊ようの嘆たん

expression, noun

lament over the difficulty of finding truth amid many paths; being at a loss

Idiomatic expression originating from a classical Chinese story about losing a sheep at a fork in the road, used to describe the frustration of being unable to choose the right path among many options, especially in academic or philosophical pursuits. Rare in modern conversation; mostly found in literary or formal contexts.

• 学がく問もんの道みちは多た岐きにわたり、まさに亡ぼう羊ようの嘆たんを禁きんじ得えない。

  The paths of learning diverge so widely that one cannot help but lament the difficulty of finding the right one.

• 選せん択たく肢しが多おおすぎて、亡ぼう羊ようの嘆たんに暮くれる思おもいだ。

  With too many options, I feel lost and frustrated, as if lamenting the lost sheep.