遠回し・遠まわし|とおまわしtoomawashi[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. na-adjective, nounroundabout (e.g. expression); indirect (reference, criticism, etc.); oblique
   遠とおまわしに彼かれの意見いけんを探さぐった。↗

   I sounded him out about his views.

• Synonym婉曲えんきょくWrittenA Sino-Japanese word used in written or formal prose; it stresses wording kept vague so as not to offend, as in 「婉曲表現」, and is more formal than 「遠まわし」.
• Related間接的かんせつてきNeutralMeans 'indirect', stressing that something else stands in between; it is not tied to how things are said, whereas 「遠まわし」 is used only for expression.
• Related間接かんせつWrittenA noun of written prose covering both connection through an intermediary and indirect expression; the latter sense overlaps with 「遠まわし」 but its range is broader.
• RelatedインダイレクトNeutralA loanword simply meaning 'indirect'; it is rarely used. For everyday talk of someone beating around the bush, 「遠まわし」 is the natural choice.
• Related回りくどいまわりくどいCasualColloquial adjective for speech that is roundabout and long-winded to the point of being tiresome, with a negative tinge; 「遠まわし」 is usually deliberate tact.
• Antonym単刀直入たんとうちょくにゅうNeutralMeans going straight to the point without preamble; it is the opposite of the veiled, roundabout 「遠まわし」.
• Antonym直截ちょくせつWrittenA word of formal prose meaning direct and frank; it is the opposite of 「遠まわし」, which implies beating around the bush.

Use 「遠まわし」 to say something indirectly on purpose, as in 「遠まわしに断る」. 「婉曲」 is the formal written choice for veiled wording; 「回りくどい」 is colloquial for tiresome, long-winded speech; 「間接的」 covers any indirect relation, not just wording.

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

1. 直接的ちょくせつてきに言いわずにそれとなく言いうこと。