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収拾がつかない (しゅうしゅうがつかない) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

収しゅう拾しゅうがつかない

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

out of hand; uncontrollable; out of control

Describes a situation that has become impossible to manage or bring under control. Often used for chaos, disorder, or escalating problems.

会かい議ぎは収しゅう拾しゅうがつかない状じょう態たいになった。
The meeting got out of hand.
彼かれの行こう動どうはもう収しゅう拾しゅうがつかない。
His behavior is already uncontrollable.

Written forms

収しゅう拾しゅうがつかない
Standard spelling using 収拾 (control, management).
収しゅう拾しゅうが付つかない
Variant using 付く instead of つく; both are common.
収しゅう集しゅうがつかない
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 収集 normally means 'collection', not 'control'.

Kanji

収income, obtain, reap

拾pick up, gather, find

付adhere, attach, refer to

集gather, meet, congregate

Similar words

手てに負おえない
Similar meaning but focuses on being beyond one's ability to handle, often for a person or task. 収拾がつかない emphasizes the chaotic state itself.
どうにもならない
More general expression for 'nothing can be done'; 収拾がつかない specifically implies loss of control over a situation.

Etymology

From 収拾 (control, management) + が + つかない (cannot be attached/achieved). The phrase literally means 'control cannot be attached', i.e., the situation cannot be brought under control.