迂回

• Reading: うかい
• Romaji: ukai
• Kanji breakdown: 迂 (u) — roundabout, winding | 回 (kai) — turn, go around
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ka.i/

Meaning

Detour; a roundabout route; bypass. Taking an indirect path to reach a destination or avoid an obstacle.

Used as a noun or suru-verb (迂回する) for both literal detours around physical obstacles and figurative roundabout approaches to problems. In military and strategic contexts it also describes a flanking manoeuvre. The figurative use is common in business and negotiation discourse.

Examples

1. 工事中のため、バスは迂回ルートを走ることになった。 Due to construction work, the bus was rerouted along a detour.
2. 直接言うのを避け、彼女は迂回した表現で気持ちを伝えた。 Avoiding a direct statement, she conveyed her feelings through roundabout expressions.
3. 敵の防衛ラインを避けるため、部隊は山を迂回して進んだ。 To avoid the enemy's defensive line, the unit advanced by making a detour around the mountain.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, military strategy, negotiation, everyday life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 迂 (u) meaning 'roundabout, winding' and 回 (kai) meaning 'turn, go around'. 迂 carries the connotation of being slow or indirect, reinforcing the image of a detour.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal