JLPT N1Words

拘泥

Readingこうでいkoudei

Meaning
些細な点にとらわれて離れない
Explanation
「拘泥(こうでい)」 describes being so fixated on a trivial point or a single matter that one cannot let go. It is used with a negative nuance of being caught up more than necessary and lacking flexibility, as in 「形式に拘泥する」 (be fixated on form). Contrary to 「態度を変える」 (change one's attitude) and 「意見に流される」 (be swayed by others' opinions), its characteristic is clinging to a single point and not budging.
Original Japanese explanation

「拘泥(こうでい)」は、些細な点や一つの事柄にこだわって離れられない様子を表します。「形式に拘泥する」のように、必要以上にとらわれて柔軟さを欠く否定的な含みで使われます。「態度を変える」「意見に流される」とは逆に、一点に固執して動かない点が特徴です。

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