堂々巡り

• Reading: どうどうめぐり
• Romaji: doudoumeguri
• Kanji breakdown: 堂 (do/tou) — hall, temple; 巡 (jun/megu) — going around, touring
• Pronunciation: /doː.doː.me.ɡɯ.ɾi/

Meaning

Going round in circles; a discussion or negotiation that keeps returning to the same point without resolution. Getting nowhere despite continued effort.

A noun and suru-verb. 堂々巡りになる describes a situation where a debate or process moves continuously in a loop without producing conclusions or progress. Originates from the act of walking repeatedly around a temple hall (堂) as an act of prayer. Used critically in business, politics, and everyday speech to describe unproductive circular argumentation.

Examples

1. 議論は堂々巡りになり、何時間話しても結論が出なかった。 The discussion went round in circles, and no conclusion was reached no matter how many hours were spent.
2. 同じ問題を何度も繰り返す堂々巡りから抜け出すには、発想の転換が必要だ。 To break free from the circular pattern of repeating the same problems over and over, a change of thinking is needed.
3. 交渉は堂々巡りの様相を呈し、双方ともに疲弊していた。 The negotiations took on the appearance of going round in circles, and both sides were exhausted.

Usage Guide

Context: business meetings, negotiations, political discourse, everyday conversation

Tone: critical

Origin & History

From 堂 (do — hall, temple) and 巡り (meguri — going around, circling). Originally described the religious practice of walking circles around a temple hall. The metaphor of purposeless circular movement was later applied to unproductive repetitive discussion.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal