PhraseNinja

Yojijukugo

Japanese meaning of 孤立無援

こりつむえん (koritsu muen)

English Translation:

Alone and without help

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Literally “isolated, without aid”; being all alone with no one to help or support you.
日本語で読む
ひとりぼっちで、助けてくれる人や味方がだれもいないこと。

Cultural Context:

孤立 means standing apart and alone, and 無援 means having no help from outside. It may be used for an army cut off from its allies, or for someone who feels unsupported at work or school.
日本語で読む
「孤立」はひとりだけ離れていること、「無援」は助けがないこと。味方から切り離された軍のほか、職場や学校で支えのない人に使うこともある。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Noun phrase; often “孤立無援の状態” or “孤立無援で戦う.”
日本語で読む
• 「〜の状態」「〜で戦う」の形で使うことが多い。

Trap for English Speakers

無援 is written with 援 (help), not 縁 (ties) as in 無縁, even though both are read むえん. 孤 is read こ, as in 孤独.
日本語で読む
「無援」は「無縁」と同じく「むえん」と読むが、「縁」ではなく助けを表す「援」と書く。「孤」は「孤独」の「こ」。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 反対意見を言ったのは私だけで、会議では孤立無援だった。

    I was the only one who disagreed, so I had no one on my side in the meeting.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 仲間とはぐれた忍は、孤立無援のまま敵の城で一夜を過ごした。

    Separated from his comrades, the ninja spent the night in the enemy castle with no one to help him.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「孤立無援」 mean?

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