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.
交渉は膠着状態に陥った。
The negotiations fell into a deadlock.
両軍の戦いは膠着状態が続いている。
The battle between the two armies remains in a stalemate.
膠着状態を打破するために、新しい提案が必要だ。
A new proposal is needed to break through the deadlock.
試合は後半に入っても膠着状態が解けず、延長戦に突入した。
Even going into the second half, the stalemate didn't break, and the game went into overtime.
Compound of 膠着 (adhesion; being stuck) and 状態 (state; condition). 膠 originally means glue, so 膠着 literally means "glued together" — vividly describing a situation where things are stuck and cannot move.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 膠着状態に陥る: to fall into a deadlock
- 膠着状態が続く: the stalemate continues
- 膠着状態を打破する: to break through a deadlock
- 膠着状態を打開する: to break open an impasse
- 膠着状態が解ける: the stalemate breaks
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 行き詰まり: deadlock; impasse — more conversational, often used for personal or business situations
- 手詰まり: being at a loss; dead end — implies running out of options, not necessarily two opposing sides
- こう着: stalemate (abbreviated form) — sometimes used alone in news headlines