いたちごっこ

い

た

ち

ご

っ

こ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

going round in circles; game of cat and mouse; pointless back-and-forth

usually written using kana aloneidiomatic expression

Describes a situation where two sides keep repeating the same actions without making progress, like a never-ending cycle. Often used for arguments, negotiations, or competitive situations.

値ね下さげ交こう渉しょうはいたちごっこで、結けっ局きょく最さい初しょの値ね段だんに戻もどった。
The price negotiation was a game of cat and mouse, and in the end we went back to the original price.
セキュリティ対たい策さくはいたちごっこだ。
Security measures are a never-ending back-and-forth.

noun

itachi-gokko; Edo-period children's hand game

usually written using kana alonehistorical term

Historical original meaning: a children's game from the Edo period where two players pinch each other's hands and stack them while chanting. Now rarely used in this literal sense.

江え戸ど時じ代だいの子こ供どもたちはいたちごっこをして遊あそんだ。
Children in the Edo period played itachi-gokko.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

鼬weasel, skunk, ermine

Related words

堂どう々どう巡めぐり
堂々巡り also means going in circles, but emphasizes circular reasoning or repetitive discussion without progress, while いたちごっこ highlights the back-and-forth, competitive aspect.

Built from

イタチ+ごっこ

Written forms

いたちごっこUsage50%
The word is usually written in kana. The kanji form 鼬ごっこ is rare.
イタチごっこUsage33%
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
イタチゴッコUsage13%
search-only kana form
鼬いたちごっこUsage4%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; the kanji 鼬 is not commonly used.

Etymology

From 鼬 (いたち, weasel) + ごっこ (play-acting). Originally referred to a children's game where players pinched each other's hands in a repetitive cycle, likened to weasels. The modern figurative meaning developed from the endless, repetitive nature of the game.