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Yojijukugo

Japanese meaning of 百家争鳴

Reading:

ひゃっかそうめい (hyakka soumei)

English Translation:

Lively contention of many schools of thought

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

“Let a hundred schools contend”: lively coexistence of diverse views.
日本語で読む
多様な学派・立場が自由闊達に議論すること。

Cultural Context:

Appears around academic debates and media panels; also alludes to China’s “Hundred Flowers” period—modern Japanese usage is broadly positive toward pluralism.
日本語で読む
学会討論や討論番組の枕詞として用いられる。中国の「百花斉放・百家争鳴」への連想もありつつ、日本語では多様性を肯定する文脈が多い。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Noun phrase meaning “hundreds of schools contending,” often with “の議論” to describe vigorous debate.
日本語で読む
多数の立場が議論を戦わせる様子を「〜の議論」として表す。

Trap for English Speakers

May be misread as a literal fight between schools rather than ideological competition.
日本語で読む
学校同士の争いと直訳し、思想や意見の対立の意味を取り違えることがある。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. シンポジウムでは百家争鳴の議論が繰り広げられた。

    The symposium saw a lively contention of many schools of thought.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 学会では百家争鳴の議論が繰り広げられた。

    At the conference, lively contention among many schools of thought took place.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「百家争鳴」 mean?

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