自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)

じじょうじばく
noun, expression
getting caught in one's own trap; being a victim of one's own actions
formalidiom
1. getting caught in one's own trap; binding oneself with one's own rope
A four-character idiom describing the situation of being constrained or harmed by one's own words, rules, or actions. Literally, 'binding oneself with one's own rope.'
自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)に陥(おちい)った。
They fell into a trap of their own making.
厳(きび)しいルールを作(つく)りすぎて自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)になった。
They made the rules too strict and ended up bound by them.
あの政治家(せいじか)は自分(じぶん)の過去(かこ)の発言(はつげん)に縛(しば)られ、自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)の状態(じょうたい)に陥(おちい)っている。
That politician is bound by their own past statements and caught in a trap of their own making.

A four-character compound (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)) composed of 自(じ) (self) + 縄(じょう) (rope) + 自(じ) (self) + 縛(ばく) (binding). Literally means 'tying oneself up with one's own rope.' Used when someone's own words, rules, or actions backfire and restrict them.

Common collocations

  • 自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)に陥(おちい)る — to fall into self-imposed constraints
  • 自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)の状態(じょうたい) — a state of being trapped by one's own doing
  • 自縄自縛(じじょうじばく)になる — to become constrained by one's own actions

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 自業自得(じごうじとく) (reaping what you sow)
Compare: 身(み)から出(で)た錆(さび) (trouble brought upon oneself)
general
Added 2026.3.26 23:28 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19500/19710_jijoujibaku