要領

Noun

要領

1. gist; main aspect; main point
2. knack; essentials

Noun

要領

1. (literary) waist and neck

   • 武也得歌於斯，哭於斯，聚國族於斯，是全要領以從先大夫於九京也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     武也得歌于斯，哭于斯，聚国族于斯，是全要领以从先大夫于九京也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Wǔ yě dé gē yú sī, kū yú sī, jù guózú yú sī, shì quán yāolǐng yǐ cóng xiān dàfū yú jiǔjīng yě. [Pinyin]

     If I, Zhao Wu, can have my songs here, and my wailings, and assemble here the representatives of the great families of the state, (it will be enough). I will then (only) seek to preserve my waist and neck to follow the late Great Officers of my family to the Nine Plains.

2. (literary) execution by slitting someone's waist or neck
3. (literary) important position or place

Derived terms

• 要領(ようりょう)がいい (yōryō ga ii)