Introducing the coolest Japanese phrases, as chosen by the Japanese people themselves.
This time, it’s the three-letter word edition.
Two-Character Edition is here
Three-Character Edition is here
- 一騎当千(ikkitosen)
- 疾風怒濤(shippudoto)
- 泰然自若(taizenjijaku)
- 八面玲瓏(hachimenreiro)
- 猛虎伏草(mokofukuso)
- 鬼面仏心(kimembusshin)
- 国士無双(kokushimuso)
- 百折不撓(hyakusetsufuto)
- 万里一空(banriikku)
- 駑馬十駕(dobajuga)
百折不撓(hyakusetsufuto)
■The Meaning of “百折不撓(hyakusetsufuto)”
No matter how many times you fail, no matter how many times you’re knocked down, never give up.
“百折(hyakusetsu)” means repeated setbacks, enough to break you a hundred times.
“不撓(futo)” means “not bending” = not yielding.
In other words, it describes a state where your spirit remains unbroken despite facing countless hardships.
百: A large number (hyperbole)
折: Setback, failure
不: Not ~
撓: Bend, yield
⇒ “No matter how many times you’re broken, you never bend.”
Key points of nuance:
・It does not mean “invincible” or “easy victory”
・It assumes you have lost many times before
・It conveys a quiet, unyielding strength that keeps moving forward despite everything
■The Origin of “百折不撓(hyakusetsufuto)”
Originating from Chinese classics,
it has been used as a phrase representing the spirit of persevering unwaveringly in one’s aspirations despite facing hardship or adversity.
It spread in association with figures who upheld their convictions amidst war and political strife,
becoming a term that signifies not mere grit, but the strength to endure a protracted struggle.
