いたちごっこ

Japanese

Alternative spelling
鼬ごっこ

Etymology

Of 鼬(いたち) (itachi, “weasel”) + ごっこ (-gokko, “make-believe, playing”). The game is attested from the early 19th century, with the figurative use from the 1870s. The figurative sense likely derives from the fact that the game involves repeating the same action, with no set end.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) いたちご​っこ [ìtáchígóꜜkkò] (Nakadaka – [4])
• IPA^(key): [ita̠t͡ɕiɡo̞k̚ko̞]

Noun

いたちごっこ • (itachi-gokko) ^{←いたちごつこ (itatigotuko)?}

1. (historical) a children’s game [19th century]

   Synonyms: 鼠ごっこ (nezumigokko), ねずみごっこいたちごっこ (nezumigokko-itachigokko)

2. (figuratively) doing the same thing again and again with no progress

Usage notes

The children’s game involves a group of children facing each other and chanting 「いたちごっこ、ねずみごっこ」 (“play the weasel, play the mouse”). One child pinches the hand of another, who in turn pinches another child’s hand, and so on.