Japanese meaning of 自縄自縛
Reading:
じじょうじばく (jijou jibaku)
English Translation:
Being caught in one’s own trap; self-imposed bind
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To be caught in one’s own trap or bind; self-imposed constraints.
Cultural Context:
Used both literally and metaphorically, often in contexts of overcomplication or excessive rules.
自分で自分を縛ってしまうこと。
文字通りにも比喩的にも使われ、過度な規則や複雑化の中で自ら身動きを取れなくする場面に用いられる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Verb phrase with “に陥る” or “になる” to describe becoming trapped by one’s own rules or constraints (“自縄自縛に陥る”).
• Also used as “の状態” to describe a self-imposed bind.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be visualized literally as rope, but it is primarily metaphorical for self-created problems.
Example
Basic Example
細かすぎるルールで自縄自縛になっている。
We’re trapped by our own overly strict rules.
Applied Example
自分の発言に縛られ、自縄自縛に陥った。
He was bound by his own words, caught in a trap of his own making.