Japanese meaning of 波瀾曲折

Reading: AI

はらんきょくせつ (haran kyokusetsu)

English Translation:

Twists and turns; complications

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

A path full of twists, complications, and reversals—more about meanders and entanglements than constant high drama.

物事が曲がりくねり、紆余曲折を経ること。連続的な大事件というより「入り組んだ展開」。

Cultural Context:

Used in synopses, memoirs, and corporate histories; contrasted with 波瀾万丈 (grand, tumultuous life) by stressing intricate turns.

あらすじ・回顧録・社史で頻出。壮大な起伏を強調する「波瀾万丈」とは違い、細かな転変の多さを示す。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Noun phrase with “の人生” or “を経て” to describe a life or process full of ups and downs (“波瀾曲折の人生”).
• Common in biographies, narratives, and historical accounts.

Trap for English Speakers

Might be mistaken for only trouble, but it includes all kinds of twists, both good and bad.

Example

Basic Example

波瀾曲折の人生を歩んできた。

I’ve lived a life full of twists and turns.

Applied Example

波瀾曲折の末にたどり着いた結末は、少年漫画の最終巻のように胸を打った。

After many twists and turns, the ending hit me like the final volume of a shonen manga.