Departments
Lesson 9
Feeling Alone
shimen-soka 四面楚歌, hitori-zumoo 一人相撲
In ancient China, various minor nations vied for control of the entire country. Two of these nations were the Han and the Chu. During one battle, the Han commander tricked the Chu commander by having his forces sing a Chu song. This made the Chu commander think that all his forces had surrendered to the Han. This event is commemorated in the phrase shimen-soka 四面楚歌. Shimen-soka 四面楚歌means "surrounded by enemies", "spurned by everyone", etc.:
Hantai no iken o ii-arawashita kekka, bunai de shimen-soka ni natta.
反対の意見を言い表した結果、部内で四面楚歌になった。
"After expressing a contrary opinion, I have become friendless within my department."
The sport of sumo wrestling requires two opponents in order for a proper match to take place. Imagine how frustrating it would be to wrestle sumo by yourself—without out an opponent. This would be an exercise in futility. The phrase: hitori-zumoo o toru一人相撲をとる、or "to wrestle a one-man sumo", uses the image of a single sumo wrestler to indicate a situation that is hopeless:
Buchoo wa fusansei na node, kono keikaku o teian shite mo hitori-zumoo ni owatte shimau.
部長は不賛成なので、この計画を提案しても一人相撲に終わってしう。
"Because the manager disagrees with the plan, it would be futile to propose it."
Opposition from one direction can prove formidable, but what if you were surrounded by opposition from all sides? Happoo 八方means "8 directions". When you experience the state of happoo-fusagari八方塞がり, you are blocked on all sides, unable to take effective action:
当社は赤字のために八方塞がりの状態です。
"Our company is paralyzed by financial deficit."