当あたらず触さわらず

あ

た

ら

ず

さ

わ

ら

ず

Meanings

1

expression, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

noncommittal; avoiding commitment; playing it safe

Describes a stance or response that neither opposes nor supports, carefully avoiding direct involvement or clear opinion. Often used with 態度, 返事, or 言い方.

彼かれは当あたらず触さわらずの返へん事じしかし

なかっ

た

。

He only gave a noncommittal reply.

会かい議ぎでは当あたらず触さわらずの態たい度どを取とった。

At the meeting, he took a noncommittal stance.

Kanji

当hit, right, appropriate
触contact, touch, feel
障hinder, hurt, harm

Related words

曖あい昧まい
曖昧 means 'vague' or 'ambiguous', often referring to unclear meaning, while 当たらず触らず specifically describes a deliberate avoidance of commitment or confrontation.
煮にえ切きらない
煮え切らない describes someone who is indecisive or wishy-washy, whereas 当たらず触らず is more about a calculated, noncommittal stance.

Written forms

当あたらず触さわらず
Standard kanji spelling using 触 for 'touch'.
当あたらず障さわらず
Variant using 障, which can also mean 'to hinder' or 'to affect', but here it is used interchangeably with 触 in this fixed expression.

Etymology

Literally 'neither hitting nor touching', from 当たる (to hit, to be right) and 触る (to touch). The phrase figuratively means avoiding any direct impact or contact, hence a noncommittal attitude.