八方塞(はっぽうふさ)がり

はっぽうふさがり
noun
blocked in all directions; at a dead end
1. blocked in all directions; at a dead end; no way out
A situation where all options are exhausted and there is no apparent solution or escape route.
八方塞(はっぽうふさ)がりの状況(じょうきょう)だ。
It's a situation where I'm blocked in all directions.
借金(しゃっきん)で八方塞(はっぽうふさ)がりになった。
I ended up at a dead end because of debt.
八方塞(はっぽうふさ)がりに思(おも)えても、必(かなら)ず道(みち)はある。
Even when it seems like there's no way out, there's always a path.

Etymology

八方(はっぽう) (all eight directions) + 塞(ふさ)がり (blocked) - blocked in all directions. From Chinese cosmology where eight directions cover all possible paths.
Originally a term from 陰陽道(おんみょうどう) (onmyodo) referring to a year when all directions are inauspicious for travel or action.

Usage

Describes

  • Financial troubles with no solution
  • Relationship problems with no escape
  • Work situations with no options
  • General feeling of being trapped

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 行(い)き詰(づ)まり (deadlock, impasse)
Related: 板挟(いたばさ)み (caught between two sides)
Compare: 途方(とほう)に暮(く)れる (to be at a loss)
Compare: 万策尽(ばんさくつ)きる (to exhaust all options)
general
Added 2026.1.21 9:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07500/07741_happoufusagari