末梢(まっしょう)

まっしょう
noun
periphery; trivial detail; tip; extremity
formalbody-partabstract
1. periphery; tip; extremity; end
The outermost or farthest part of something, especially in anatomy or biology.
末梢(まっしょう)神経(しんけい)を傷(きず)つけた。
I damaged a peripheral nerve.
手足(てあし)の末梢(まっしょう)が冷(つめ)たい。
The tips of my hands and feet are cold.
末梢(まっしょう)血管(けっかん)の血流(けつりゅう)が悪(わる)くなっている。
Blood flow in the peripheral blood vessels has deteriorated.
2. trivial matter; minor detail; trifle
Something unimportant or insignificant, not central to the main issue.
末梢(まっしょう)にこだわるな。
Don't get hung up on trivial details.
末梢(まっしょう)な問題(もんだい)は後回(あとまわ)しにしよう。
Let's put the minor issues aside for now.
本質(ほんしつ)ではなく末梢(まっしょう)な部分(ぶぶん)ばかり議論(ぎろん)している。
They are only debating trivial points rather than the essence of the matter.

Composed of 末(まつ) (end, tip) + 梢(しょう) (treetop, tip of a branch). The original meaning refers to the very tip of a tree branch, extended to mean any outermost part or, figuratively, something peripheral and unimportant.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 些細(ささい): trivial, trifling — a more common word for "trivial" in everyday use
  • 枝葉(しよう): minor details — literally "branches and leaves," a similar metaphor
  • 抹消(まっしょう): erasure, deletion — a homophone with completely different meaning and kanji

Related Words

Compare: 些細(ささい) (trivial, trifling)
Homophone: 抹消(まっしょう) (erasure, deletion)
general
Added 2026.4.8 4:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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