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This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

枝葉末節

Reading

Kana: しようまっせつ
Romaji: shiyoumassetsu
Kana
Romaji

Definition

noun
1

unimportant details; inessentials

Note: yojijukugo

Kanji

枝
Readings: シ、 えだ
Meanings: bough, branch, twig, limb, counter for branches
葉
Readings: ヨウ、 は
Meanings: leaf, plane, lobe, needle, blade, spear, counter for flat things, fragment, piece
末
Readings: マツ、 バツ、 すえ
Meanings: end, close, tip, powder, posterity
節
Readings: セツ、 セチ、 ふし、 -ぶし、 のっと
Meanings: node, season, period, occasion, verse, clause, stanza, honor, joint, knuckle, knob, knot, tune, melody

Example Sentence

枝葉(えだは)末節(まっせつ)の議論(ぎろん)はもうそろそろ止(と)めにして、本筋(ほんすじ)の話(はなし)に移(うつ)りませんか。
➥Why don't we stop arguing over these piddling matters and get to the issues at hand?
Full Entry➤