枝葉(えだは)

えだは
noun
branches and leaves; minor details; nonessentials
naturemetaphor
1. branches and leaves
The branches and foliage of a tree or plant.
枝葉(えだは)が茂(しげ)っている。
The branches and leaves are thick.
台風(たいふう)で枝葉(えだは)が散(ち)らばった。
Branches and leaves were scattered by the typhoon.
庭(にわ)の木(き)の枝葉(えだは)を剪定(せんてい)した。
I pruned the branches and leaves of the garden tree.
2. minor details; nonessentials; side issues
Figuratively, the trivial or secondary aspects of something, as opposed to the main point or trunk (the core issue).
枝葉(えだは)にこだわらず本質(ほんしつ)を見(み)よう。
Let's not get caught up in minor details and look at the essence.
枝葉(えだは)の議論(ぎろん)に時間(じかん)を取(と)られた。
We spent time on side issues.
枝葉(えだは)末節(まっせつ)にとらわれず、大(おお)きな方向性(ほうこうせい)を決(き)めましょう。
Let's not get bogged down in trivial details and decide on the overall direction.

The literal meaning (branches and leaves) naturally extends to the figurative meaning of 'nonessential details,' in contrast to the trunk (幹(みき)) which represents the core or main point.

Common collocations

  • 枝葉(えだは)末節(まっせつ): trivial details; nonessentials — a four-character compound emphasizing the unimportant
  • 枝葉(えだは)にこだわる: to get caught up in minor details
  • 枝葉(えだは)の議論(ぎろん): side-issue debate
  • 枝葉(えだは)を切(き)る: to prune; to trim away the nonessentials

Similar words

  • 末節(まっせつ): trivial detail — similar to the figurative sense of 枝葉(えだは), often used together
  • 些細(ささい)な: trivial; minor — an adjective describing something of little importance
  • 本質(ほんしつ): essence — the opposite: the core matter rather than the peripheral details

Related Words

Compare: 些細(ささい) (trivial)
Antonym: 本質(ほんしつ) (essence)
general
Added 2026.4.6 0:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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