我田引水
がでんいんすい
self-serving argument
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
それは我田引水の理屈だ。
それはがでんいんすいのりくつだ。
That is a self-serving argument.
我田引水な説明では、誰も納得しない。
がでんいんすいなせつめいでは、だれもなっとくしない。
No one will be convinced by a self-serving explanation.
我田引水になるかもしれないが、この方式が最も効率的だ。
がでんいんすいになるかもしれないが、このほうしきがもっともこうりつてきだ。
This may sound self-serving, but this method is the most efficient.
Common patterns
- 我田引水の議論
- a self-serving argument
- 我田引水になる
- to end up sounding self-serving
- 我田引水な解釈
- a convenient reading in one's own favour
Memory tip
The picture is a farmer diverting the irrigation water into his own field (我田) only. It criticises reasoning bent to one's own advantage; 手前味噌 is the close cousin but is about praising your own work, often self-deprecatingly.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
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What does 我田引水 mean?