1.
branches and leaves
The branches and foliage of a tree or plant.
枝葉が茂っている。
The branches and leaves are thick.
台風で枝葉が散らばった。
Branches and leaves were scattered by the typhoon.
庭の木の枝葉を剪定した。
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).
枝葉にこだわらず本質を見よう。
Let's not get caught up in minor details and look at the essence.
枝葉の議論に時間を取られた。
We spent time on side issues.
枝葉末節にとらわれず、大きな方向性を決めましょう。
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) which represents the core or main point.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 枝葉末節: trivial details; nonessentials — a four-character compound emphasizing the unimportant
- 枝葉にこだわる: to get caught up in minor details
- 枝葉の議論: side-issue debate
- 枝葉を切る: to prune; to trim away the nonessentials
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 末節: trivial detail — similar to the figurative sense of 枝葉, often used together
- 些細な: trivial; minor — an adjective describing something of little importance
- 本質: essence — the opposite: the core matter rather than the peripheral details