右往左往 Run about in Confusion

Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 18:46

Kotowaza and Sayings Audio

Japanese proverbs

右往左往
Running around like a chicken with its head cut off

右往左往

Japanese	うおうさおう u ou sa ou
Literal	go right and left
English Equivalent	Running around like a chicken with its head cut off; go in all directions
Notes	Learning this 四字熟語 is a great way to remember the on readings of right and left. I don't know about you, but learning みぎ and ひだり seemed easy compared to remembering which was う and which was さ. If you can remember 'right' goes first, saying this fun word will help clear up the confusion. u (right) ou sa (left) ou 右折 u setsu--a right turn (often heard by car navigation systems) 左折 sa setsu--a left turn

突然の地震で人々は右往左往した。
totsuzen no jishin de hitobito wa uousaou shita.
A sudden earthquake caused the people to go in all directions.

突然の totsuzen no—sudden; unexpected
地震 jishin—earthquake
人々hito bito—people [The 々shows repetition of the previous kanji: 人人; Note the sound change on the second 'hito']
した shita—Use する with 右往左往