円えん鑿さく方ほう枘ぜい

noun

round peg in a square hole; mismatch; incompatibility

A rare yojijukugo meaning that things do not fit together, like a round peg in a square hole. Used metaphorically for incompatible ideas, people, or situations.

• 「円えん鑿さく方ほう枘ぜい」は、丸まるいほぞを四し角かくい穴あなに入いれようとするような、不ふ適てき合ごうを表あらわす故こ事じ成せい語ごだ。

  円鑿方枘 is a classical idiom that expresses incompatibility, like trying to fit a round tenon into a square hole.