Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
紆余曲折 (うよきょくせつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
twists and turns ; ups and downs ; vicissitudes
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Describes a winding path or a complicated, eventful process. Often used for life stories, negotiations, or historical developments. The する form is intransitive.
After many complications, the negotiations finally reached an agreement.
Kanji 余 too much, myself, surplus Similar words 波は 乱らん 万ばん 丈じょう 波乱万丈 emphasizes dramatic ups and downs, often with a sense of turbulence, while 紆余曲折 focuses more on winding, complicated processes.
紆う 曲きょく 紆曲 is a less common synonym meaning winding or meandering, but lacks the 'ups and downs' nuance of 紆余曲折.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 紆 (winding), 余 (excess/remaining), 曲 (bend), and 折 (break/fold). The combination evokes a path that bends and twists repeatedly, metaphorically extended to complicated situations.
