JLPT N1Proverbs
漱石枕流
- Meaning
- 自分の誤りを認めず屁理屈で押し通そうとすること
- Explanation
- From the anecdote in which a person who misspoke 「石に枕し流れに漱ぐ」(to pillow on a stone and rinse one's mouth in the stream), even when pointed out, insisted that one brushes one's teeth with a stone and washes one's ears in the stream, it means refusing to admit a mistake out of stubborn pride and pushing it through with sophistry. It is the exact opposite attitude to c4, which urges honestly correcting one's mistakes.
Original Japanese explanation
「石に枕し流れに漱ぐ」を言い間違えた人物が、指摘されても石で歯を磨き流れで耳を洗うのだと強弁した故事から、負け惜しみで誤りを認めず屁理屈で押し通すこと。誤りを素直に改めよと説く c4 とは正反対の態度です。
Quick check
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