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徒言 (いたずらごと) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

徒いたずら言ごと

い

た

ず

ら

ご

と

Meanings

1

nonsense; gibberish; meaningless words

Rare literary noun for empty or foolish talk; not used in everyday conversation.

彼かれの話はなしは結けっ局きょくいたずらごとに

過す

ぎ

なかっ

た

。

His story turned out to be nothing but nonsense.

Kanji

徒on foot, junior, emptiness
言say, word

Related words

戯ざれ言ごと
戯言 (ざれごと) is more common for 'nonsense' or 'joke', while 徒言 is rarer and more literary.
無む駄だ話ばなし
無駄話 is a neutral, everyday word for 'idle talk', whereas 徒言 carries a stronger sense of emptiness or foolishness.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 徒 ('futile') and 言 ('word') combine to suggest 'empty words'.