confusedly; in perplexity
Describes a state of being flustered or bewildered, often used in the phrase ほうほうの体 (ほうほうのてい) meaning 'in a fluster' or 'in a confused state'. Rare standalone noun use; mostly encountered in this fixed expression.
He fled in a fluster.
ほうほうの体で家に帰った。
I went home in a confused state.
Kana spelling is the standard modern written form.
Kanji spelling without the iteration mark; also very rare.
Written 這々 and related to 這う “crawl,” the expression evokes escaping or proceeding in a disordered, desperate manner.