問答無用

Japanese

Kanji in this term
問	答	無	用
もん Grade: 3	とう > どう Grade: 2	む Grade: 4	よう Grade: 2
on’yomi

Etymology

From 問(もん)答(どう) (mondō, “dialogue”) + 無(む)用(よう) (muyō, “uselessness, futility”).

Phrase

問(もん)答(どう)無(む)用(よう) • (mondō muyō) 

1. (there is) no use in arguing; dialogue is useless
   • 1932, Inukai Tsuyoshi, Assassins of Inukai Tsuyoshi, May 15 incident:

     犬(いぬ)養(かい)毅(つよし)：話(はな)せばわかる。
     暗(あん)殺(さつ)者(しゃ)：問(もん)答(どう)無(む)用(よう)、撃(う)て！

     Inukai tsuyoshi: Hanaseba wakaru.
     Ansatsu sha: Mondō muyō, ute!

     Inukai Tsuyoshi: You'll be convinced if you just listen to me.
     Assassins: No argument, shoot him!

References

• Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN