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振り出しに戻る (ふりだしにもどる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

振ふり出だしに戻もどる

ふ

り

だ

し

に

も

ど

る

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

go back to square one; make a fresh start; be back where one started

Idiomatic expression meaning to return to the starting point after an effort fails, or to begin again from scratch. Often used when plans, negotiations, or projects fall through.

See also: 振り出し

交こう渉しょうが決けつ裂れつして、計けい画かくは振ふり出だしに戻もどった。
The negotiations broke down, and the plan went back to square one.

データが消きえてしまったので、振ふり出だしに戻もどってやり直なおすしかない。

The data got deleted, so I have no choice but to go back to the beginning and start over.

Written forms

振ふり出だしに戻もどる
Standard kanji spelling for this set phrase.
ふりだしに戻もどる
Kana spelling is common in casual writing or when avoiding kanji.

Kanji

振shake, wave, wag
出exit, leave, go out
戻re-, return, revert

Similar words

振ふり出だし
振り出し means 'starting point' or 'beginning' (especially in board games or processes). 振り出しに戻る is the full phrase meaning 'to return to that starting point'.
一いちからやり直なおす
一からやり直す means 'to start over from scratch', emphasizing rebuilding from zero. 振り出しに戻る focuses on returning to the original starting point after a setback.

Etymology

Derived from 振り出し (starting point in a board game, especially sugoroku) + に戻る (to return to). The phrase figuratively extends the game metaphor to any situation where one must go back to the beginning.