是耶非耶 (ぜかひか)

Today’s Yojijukugo is 是耶非耶 (ぜかひか).

• Meaning:
  • Definition: 善悪の判断に迷うこと。
  • Meaning: To hesitate in the decision of good or evil.

• Composition:
  • 是 (ぜ): This character means “right” or “justice”
  • 非 (ひ): This character means “negative” or “injustice”
  • 耶 (か): This is an old version of the now-written-in-hiragana question mark 「か」.

• Notes:
  • This expression could be translated as “Good? Bad?” due to its construction.
  • This Yojijukugo comes from the story of Bo Yi and his brother Shu Qi from the transition of the Shang Dynasty and Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE). Bo Yi refused the throne from his father because he believed his father preferred his brother. But Shu Qi refused to bypass his older brother. When the dynasty changed, they died in starvation, facing the dilemma of either eating the new dynasty’s food and thus be disloyal, or to remain loyal.

• Example:
  • あの社長はいつも是耶非耶、指導者として不合格だな。
  • あのしゃちょうはいつもぜかひか、しどうしゃとしてふごうかくだな。
  • That director is always hesitating. That a sign of a bad leader.

This Yojijukugo is in the Kanji Kentei Level 1.5 (準一級) and doesn’t have a synonym.

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是耶非耶迷うよりは何かを決めて前に向けて歩いたほうがいい！