月げっ下か推すい敲こう

noun

polishing one's writing; repeatedly refining a text

A yojijukugo describing the act of carefully and repeatedly revising a piece of writing, especially the choice of words. Often used in literary or academic contexts.

• 彼かれは詩しの完かん成せいまで月げっ下か推すい敲こうを重かさねた。

  He repeatedly polished his poem until it was finished.

• この小しょう説せつは何なん度ども月げっ下か推すい敲こうされた跡あとが感かんじられる。

  You can feel the traces of repeated revision in this novel.