1.
starting point; square one; beginning
The initial starting point. Most commonly used in the expression 振り出しに戻る (to go back to square one), referring to returning to the beginning after progress is lost.
振り出しに戻ってしまった。
We ended up back at square one.
交渉が決裂して、すべてが振り出しに戻った。
Negotiations broke down and everything went back to square one.
データが消えて、一から振り出しに戻ってやり直すしかない。
The data was lost, so there's no choice but to go back to the beginning and start over from scratch.
USAGE:
振り出し originally refers to the starting square in a board game (like sugoroku). The expression 振り出しに戻る (to go back to square one) is extremely common and is the primary way this word is used in everyday Japanese.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 振り出しに戻る (to go back to square one)
- 振り出しから (from the beginning)
- 振り出しに戻す (to put something back to the starting point)
CULTURAL NOTE:
The word comes from すごろく (Japanese backgammon/board game), where 振り出し is the starting square. Landing on certain squares sends you back to 振り出し.