万策尽きる
ばんさくつきる
ichidan verb, expression
to exhaust all options; to run out of ideas
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 万策尽きる | 万策尽きない |
| Present polite | 万策尽きます | 万策尽きません |
| Past | 万策尽きた | 万策尽きなかった |
| Past polite | 万策尽きました | 万策尽きませんでした |
| て form | 万策尽きて | 万策尽きなくて |
| ている present | 万策尽きている | 万策尽きていない |
| ている polite | 万策尽きています | 万策尽きていません |
| ている past | 万策尽きていた | 万策尽きていなかった |
| ている past polite | 万策尽きていました | 万策尽きていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 万策尽きれば | 万策尽きなければ |
| Conditional たら | 万策尽きたら | 万策尽きなかったら |
| Volitional | 万策尽きよう | — |
| Volitional polite | 万策尽きましょう | — |
| Potential | 万策尽きられる | 万策尽きられない |
| Passive | 万策尽きられる | 万策尽きられない |
| Causative | 万策尽きさせる | 万策尽きさせない |
| Imperative | 万策尽きろ | 万策尽きるな |
1.
to exhaust all options; to run out of ideas; to have no more measures left
A situation in which every possible strategy or solution has been tried and nothing remains. Expresses a sense of helplessness after having done everything one can.
万策尽きた。
I've run out of options.
万策尽きて途方に暮れた。
Having exhausted all options, I was at a complete loss.
交渉は難航し、万策尽きたかに見えたが、最後に妥協案が見つかった。
Negotiations were difficult and it seemed like all options had been exhausted, but a compromise was found at the last moment.
Composed of 万策 (all measures/strategies, literally 'ten thousand plans') + 尽きる (to be exhausted, to run out). An expressive set phrase conveying total helplessness.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 万策尽きた: all options exhausted (past tense, most common form)
- 万策尽きて: having exhausted all options (conjunctive)
- もはや万策尽きた: there are truly no more options left
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 手詰まり: deadlock, stalemate — a situation where no progress can be made; less dramatic
- 八方塞がり: blocked in all directions — every path is closed off; emphasizes being trapped
- お手上げ: giving up, throwing in the towel — a more casual expression of helplessness
USAGE:
A dramatic, literary expression often used at moments of crisis. Common in news reporting, fiction, and speeches. The phrase 万策尽きた is particularly well-known from sports and political commentary.