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苟且 (こうしょ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

苟こう且しょ

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

stopgap; makeshift; temporary

archaic

Archaic literary term for something temporary or improvised. Not used in modern everyday speech.

古こ典てんでは、苟こう且しょの策さくとしてその場ばしのぎの対たい応おうを指さすことがある。
In classical texts, 苟且 sometimes refers to a stopgap measure as a makeshift response.

Kanji

苟any, at all, in the least
且moreover, also, furthermore

Similar words

その場ばしのぎ
Modern common expression for 'stopgap' or 'makeshift', unlike the archaic 苟且.
一いち時じ的てき
Standard modern word for 'temporary', while 苟且 is archaic and literary.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 苟 (careless, temporary) and 且 (moreover, for the time being) combine to convey a sense of something provisional or makeshift.