J-WOTD: 物別れ

ものわかれ (monowakare)

* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”

I thought this was a cool phrase, and I was surprised that I had never heard anyone use it before yesterday..

Basically points out a situation or a confrontation, or even just a discussion between two parties that did not go well, and ended with no conclusion. It also portrays that the meeting or discussion was a waste of time. This happens so much in Japan, that this phrase will be so useful for me.

物別れで終わる
end in disagreement, or without any conclusion.
話し合いは物別れになったとの電話連絡を受けた。
I got a phone call saying the talks had broken down.
その二国間の協議は物別れに終わった
Talks between the two countries got nowhere.
物別れのままである
remain stalemated

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