Japanese meaning of 縦横無尽
Reading:
じゅうおうむじん (juuou mujin)
English Translation:
Freely; without restriction; in every direction
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Freely and without restriction, able to move or act in every direction.
Cultural Context:
Often used in both literal and figurative senses, such as describing a free-flowing conversation or unrestricted movement in sports.
自由自在に、制限なくあらゆる方向に動き回ること。
会話の流れやスポーツでの動きなど、文字通りにも比喩的にも使われることが多い。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Adverbial phrase with “に動く” or “に活躍する” to describe free and unrestricted action (“縦横無尽に動く”).
• Also used with “の活躍” or “の走り” to describe versatile or wide-ranging performance.
Trap for English Speakers
Could be mistaken as purely directional (“vertically and horizontally”), but it means total freedom of movement or versatility.
Example
Basic Example
彼は縦横無尽にアイデアを出してくれるから、会議が楽しい。
He freely throws out ideas, making our meetings enjoyable.
Applied Example
縦横無尽にフィールドを駆け回った。
He ran freely across the field in every direction.