1.
winding, meandering, twists and turns
A literary word meaning to wind or meander. Almost exclusively encountered as part of the four-character compound 紆余曲折 (twists and turns, complications). Rarely used on its own in modern Japanese.
紆余した道を歩く。
To walk along a winding road.
川は紆余しながら海へ向かう。
The river winds its way toward the sea.
紆余を経て、ようやく結論に達した。
After many twists and turns, we finally reached a conclusion.
A highly literary word that is almost always encountered as part of the four-character compound 紆余曲折 (twists and turns, complications). On its own, 紆余 means to wind or meander, both literally (of roads and rivers) and figuratively (of processes and events).
The characters break down as 紆 (to wind, to coil) + 余 (to extend, to spread). Both characters suggest gradual, winding extension.
COMMON USAGE:
- 紆余曲折: twists and turns, complications — by far the most common form
- 紆余した道: a winding road (literary)
- 紆余を経て: after going through twists and turns
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 紆余曲折: twists and turns — the standard four-character compound
- 曲折: bending, complications — can be used independently unlike 紆余
- 蛇行: meandering, winding — specifically for rivers or roads snaking back and forth
Related Words
Related:
紆余曲折