姑息(こそく)

こそく
na-adjective, noun
stopgap; cowardly; underhanded
descriptive
1. stopgap; temporary; makeshift
The original meaning: a temporary, palliative measure that does not address the root cause of a problem.
姑息(こそく)な手段(しゅだん)。
A stopgap measure.
姑息(こそく)な対応(たいおう)ではなく、根本的(こんぽんてき)な解決(かいけつ)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
What's needed is a fundamental solution, not stopgap measures.
そんな問題(もんだい)を先送(さきおく)りにするような姑息(こそく)なやり方(かた)はやめてほしい。
I wish they'd stop using such stopgap approaches that just postpone the problem.
2. cowardly; sneaky; underhanded
The widely used modern meaning: acting in a petty, cowardly, or underhanded way to avoid direct confrontation. This usage arose from the negative connotation of avoiding proper solutions.
姑息(こそく)なまねをするな。
Don't do anything sneaky.
陰(かげ)で悪口(わるくち)を言(い)うなんて姑息(こそく)だ。
Talking behind someone's back is cowardly.
正々堂々(せいせいどうどう)と勝負(しょうぶ)せず、姑息(こそく)な手(て)を使(つか)う相手(あいて)に腹(はら)が立(た)った。
I was angry at the opponent who used underhanded tricks instead of competing fair and square.

姑息(こそく) is a famous case of semantic shift in Japanese: its original meaning ('temporary, stopgap') has been largely replaced in everyday use by a new meaning ('cowardly, sneaky').

Usage

  • Functions as a な-adjective and as a noun.
  • Originally from Chinese, where 姑(こ) means 'for the time being' and 息(そく) means 'to rest/breathe'; the literal sense is 'a momentary breather' — i.e., a stopgap.
  • Surveys by the Agency for Cultural Affairs show over 70% of speakers now use it in the newer 'cowardly/sneaky' sense. Both meanings are now considered acceptable in modern Japanese, but the new sense dominates conversation.
  • The original sense survives mainly in medical terminology.
  • Modifier (姑息(こそく)な + noun): 姑息(こそく)な手段(しゅだん) (a sneaky/stopgap means), 姑息(こそく)なまね (sneaky behavior), 姑息(こそく)な言(い)い訳(わけ) (a cowardly excuse)
  • Predicate: そのやり方(かた)は姑息(こそく)だ (that approach is underhanded)
  • Medical (original sense): 姑息(こそく)的(てき)治療(ちりょう) (palliative treatment)

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 卑怯(ひきょう) (cowardly, unfair (a stronger and more…)
Compare: 一時的(いちじてき) (temporary (the modern, neutral way…)
general
Added 2026.3.22 20:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18680_kosoku