朝ちょう三さん暮ぼ四し

noun

six of one and half a dozen of another; preoccupied with superficial differences

A yojijukugo derived from a Chinese fable about a monkey keeper who offered three acorns in the morning and four in the evening, then four in the morning and three in the evening, fooling the monkeys. Used to describe someone who is caught up in trivial differences without realizing the outcome is the same.

• 朝ちょう三さん暮ぼ四しの議ぎ論ろんに終しゅう始しして、本ほん質しつ的てきな問もん題だいが置おき去ざりにされた。

  The discussion was nothing but six of one and half a dozen of another, and the essential issue was left behind.

• 彼かれの提てい案あんは朝ちょう三さん暮ぼ四しに過すぎず、実じっ質しつ的てきな改かい善ぜんにはならない。

  His proposal is merely a superficial change; it won't lead to any real improvement.