(こうちゃく)(じょうたい)

こうちゃくじょうたい
noun
stalemate; deadlock; impasse
1. stalemate; deadlock; impasse
A situation where no progress can be made because opposing sides are evenly matched or unwilling to compromise. Used for negotiations, conflicts, competitions, and political situations.
交渉(こうしょう)膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)(おちい)った。
The negotiations fell into a deadlock.
両軍(りょうぐん)(たたか)いは膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)(つづ)いている。
The battle between the two armies remains in a stalemate.
膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)打破(だは)するために、(あたら)しい提案(ていあん)必要(ひつよう)だ。
A new proposal is needed to break through the deadlock.
試合(しあい)後半(こうはん)(はい)っても膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)()けず、延長戦(えんちょうせん)突入(とつにゅう)した。
Even going into the second half, the stalemate didn't break, and the game went into overtime.

Compound of 膠着(こうちゃく) (adhesion; being stuck) and 状態(じょうたい) (state; condition). (こう) originally means glue, so 膠着(こうちゃく) literally means "glued together" — vividly describing a situation where things are stuck and cannot move.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)(おちい)る: to fall into a deadlock
  • 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)(つづ)く: the stalemate continues
  • 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)打破(だは)する: to break through a deadlock
  • 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)打開(だかい)する: to break open an impasse
  • 膠着(こうちゃく)状態(じょうたい)()ける: the stalemate breaks

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ()()まり: deadlock; impasse — more conversational, often used for personal or business situations
  • 手詰(てづ)まり: being at a loss; dead end — implies running out of options, not necessarily two opposing sides
  • こう(ちゃく): stalemate (abbreviated form) — sometimes used alone in news headlines