拱きょう手しゅ傍ぼう観かん

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

stand idly by and watch; look on with folded arms

A yojijukugo describing passive inaction in the face of a situation, often with a negative connotation of indifference or helplessness. Used in formal or literary contexts.

• 彼かれは困こまっている人ひとを見みても拱きょう手しゅ傍ぼう観かんしているだけだった。

  He just stood idly by and watched even when he saw someone in trouble.

• 政せい府ふは問もん題だいを拱きょう手しゅ傍ぼう観かんするだけで、何なんの対たい策さくも打うたなかった。

  The government merely looked on with folded arms at the problem and took no measures.