章しょうを断たち義ぎを取とる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

interpret a passage out of context; quote out of context

Idiomatic expression meaning to take a passage or statement and interpret it in isolation, ignoring the surrounding context. Often used critically when someone distorts meaning by selective quotation. Related to the four-character compound 断章取義 (だんしょうしゅぎ).

See also: 断章取義 (だんしょうしゅぎ)

• 彼かれはいつも章しょうを断たち義ぎを取とるような解かい釈しゃくをするから、話はなしがかみ合あわない。

  He always interprets things by taking passages out of context, so we never see eye to eye.

• 章しょうを断たち義ぎを取とる読よみ方かたをすると、著ちょ者しゃの意い図とを誤ご解かいしてしまう。

  If you read by isolating passages from their context, you'll misunderstand the author's intent.