Kosoku (姑息 - Temporizing/Cowardly)

Today I'd like to introduce the Japanese word "kosoku" (姑息), but you need to pay attention when using this word.

Because over 70 percent of Japanese people (around 90 percent of young Japanese people) used this word in a wrong meaning.

The "ko" (姑) means "a while" and the "soku" (息) means "break/rest," so "kosoku" means "temporizing" or "makeshift."

However, these days, "kosoku" is used to mean "cowardly."

It's thought that the reason is because cowards tend to do makeshift acts, or the sound is similar to "koshaku" (小癪), which means "annoying."

Since too many people have misused this word, I think that in the near future, "kosoku" will include two different meanings officially.

姑息

今日は「姑息」という単語を紹介しますが、使う際には注意を払う必要があります。

なぜならば、日本人の7割以上（若者は9割近く）が、この言葉を本来の意味とは異なる意味で使用してるからです。

「姑」は「しばらく」、「息」は「休憩」を意味することから、「姑息」は「一時の間に合わせ」や「その場しのぎ」を意味します。

しかし、現代ではほとんどの場合、「姑息」は「卑怯」の意味で使用されます。

その場しのぎばかりする人は卑怯な傾向があることや、「憎たらしい」を意味する「小癪」と語感が似ていることが原因だと考えられています。

あまりにも誤用する人が多いので、近い将来「姑息」は「卑怯」も意味するものとして、正式に辞書に掲載されるように思います。

• Today I'd like to introduce the Japanese word "kosoku" (姑息), but you need to pay attention when using this word.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Because over 70 percent of Japanese people (around 90 percent of young Japanese people) used this word in a wrong meaning.
• Because over 70 percent of Japanese people (around 90 percent of young Japanese people) use this word in a wrong meaning.

• The "ko" (姑) means "a while" and the "soku" (息) means "break/rest," so "kosoku" means "temporizing" or "makeshift."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• However, these days, "kosoku" is used to mean "cowardly."
• However, these days, "kosoku" means "cowardly."

• It's thought that the reason is because cowards tend to do makeshift acts, or the sound is similar to "koshaku" (小癪), which means "annoying."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Since too many people have misused this word, I think that in the near future, "kosoku" will include two different meanings officially.
• Since too many people have misused this word, I think that in the near future, "kosoku" will officially include two different meanings.