平行線(へいこうせん)

へいこうせん
noun
parallel lines; deadlock
1. parallel lines
Lines that run in the same direction and never intersect. A geometry term.
二(ふた)つの線(せん)は平行線(へいこうせん)だ。
The two lines are parallel.
平行線(へいこうせん)は交(まじ)わらない。
Parallel lines do not intersect.
平行線(へいこうせん)の性質(せいしつ)を利用(りよう)して作図(さくず)する。
I'll use the properties of parallel lines to draw the figure.
2. deadlock; impasse; no progress
A situation where two sides cannot reach agreement, like parallel lines that never meet. Used figuratively for negotiations or discussions that go nowhere.
議論(ぎろん)は平行線(へいこうせん)のままだ。
The discussion remains at a deadlock.
交渉(こうしょう)は平行線(へいこうせん)をたどった。
The negotiations reached an impasse.
双方(そうほう)の主張(しゅちょう)は平行線(へいこうせん)で、合意(ごうい)には至(いた)らなかった。
Both sides' positions remained at an impasse, and no agreement was reached.

Usage

Sense 1 is the mathematical term. Sense 2 is a very common figurative usage in news and everyday speech, describing negotiations, discussions, or opinions that cannot converge — like parallel lines that never meet.

Common collocations

  • 平行線(へいこうせん)をたどる (to reach an impasse)
  • 平行線(へいこうせん)のまま (remaining at a deadlock)
  • 議論(ぎろん)が平行線(へいこうせん) (the discussion is deadlocked)

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい) (stalemate)
Compare: 堂々巡(どうどうめぐ)り (going around in circles)
Antonym: 交差線(こうさせん) (intersecting lines)
Compare: 垂線(すいせん) (perpendicular line)
general
Added 2026.3.15 13:37 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16500/16975_heikousen