立ち往生・立往生|たちおうじょうtachioujou[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Which spelling to use
立ち往生立ち往生 is the more common form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it as your default when writing this word.
立往生立往生 is less common than 立ち往生 and uses only kanji; you may encounter this variant in written Japanese, but beginners should choose 立ち往生.
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbbeing brought to a standstill; being stranded; getting stuck; stalling; deadlock
    I was held up on my way to the hospital in a traffic jam.
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbbeing stumped; being in a dilemma; stopping in one's tracks; standing speechless
    The French teacher was stumped by her student's question.
  3. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdying while standing (and remaining standing); dying on one's feet
Conjugation
Dictionary form立ち往生する(たちおうじょうする)
Polite (masu)立ち往生します(たちおうじょうします)
Negative (nai)立ち往生しない(たちおうじょうしない)
polite (masen)立ち往生しません(たちおうじょうしません)
classical zu / nu立ち往生せず・立ち往生せぬ(たちおうじょうせず・たちおうじょうせぬ)
Past (ta)立ち往生した(たちおうじょうした)
polite (mashita)立ち往生しました(たちおうじょうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)立ち往生しなかった(たちおうじょうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)立ち往生しませんでした(たちおうじょうしませんでした)
Te form立ち往生して(たちおうじょうして)
Potential立ち往生できる(たちおうじょうできる)
Passive立ち往生される(たちおうじょうされる)
Causative立ち往生させる(たちおうじょうさせる)
Causative passive立ち往生させられる(たちおうじょうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)立ち往生すれば(たちおうじょうすれば)
tara立ち往生したら(たちおうじょうしたら)
Volitional立ち往生しよう(たちおうじょうしよう)
polite (mashou)立ち往生しましょう(たちおうじょうしましょう)
Imperative立ち往生しろ(たちおうじょうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym行き詰まりいきづまりNeutralA deadlock where work or talks can go no further; stresses having no way out, whereas 「立ち往生」 stresses being stuck where you are, unable to move.
  • Synonym膠着こうちゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose for a situation frozen with no progress, mostly for war situations and negotiations; 「立ち往生」 also covers stranded vehicles.
  • Synonym膠着状態こうちゃくじょうたいWrittenCommon in news reports for a locked standoff; stresses two sides facing off, while 「立ち往生」 ranges more widely, including stranded vehicles.
  • Related手詰まりてづまりNeutralOriginally a board-game term; stresses having run out of options, not being physically stranded as with 「立ち往生」.
  • RelatedデッドロックNeutralLoanword for a deadlock or impasse, mainly in diplomacy and IT; unlike 「立ち往生」 it is not used for stranded vehicles.
  • Antonym順調じゅんちょうNeutralAntonym of 「立ち往生」: things going ahead smoothly without a hitch.
  • Antonym快調かいちょうNeutralAlso an antonym of 「立ち往生」: progress going smoothly at a good pace.

Use 「立ち往生」 for vehicles stranded, being stuck, or being left speechless, e.g. 「大雪で車が立ち往生」. For a dead end with no way forward pick 「行き詰まり」; for a frozen standoff 「膠着」. The opposite is 「順調」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 立たったままで死しぬこと。
  2. 列車れっしゃや車くるまが何なんらかの原因げんいんにより途中とちゅうで止とまり、進すすむも戻もどるも出来できない状態じょうたいでいること。
  3. 質問しつもん攻せめにあうなどして回答かいとうに困こまり壇上だんじょうに棒立ぼうだちになること。
Kanji in this word

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