じゅう
重
ばこ
箱
　
の
すみ
隅
　
を
　
ほ
　
じ
　
く
　
る

expression, Godan verb

Idiomatic expression.
  1. to nitpick, to complain about trifles.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
じゅう
重
ばこ
箱
　
の
すみ
隅
　
を
　
ほ
　
じ
　
く
　
る
 重箱の隅をほじくる じゅうばこのすみをほじくる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

heavy, important, esteem
ジュウ　おも.い　かさ.ねる (3rd, N4)
thousand
セン　ち　かず (1st, N5)
ri, village, parent's home
さと　リ　さ (2nd)
rice field, rice paddy
た　デン　たん (1st, N4)
soil, earth, ground
ド　つち　は (1st, N5)
box, chest, case
はこ　ソウ (3rd, N3)
bamboo
たけ　チク　たか (1st, N2)
individual(個) variant
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
inter-, mutual, together
あい-　ソウ　ショウ (3rd, N3)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
eye, class, look
め　モク　ボク (1st, N4)
corner, nook
すみ　グウ (9th, N2)
long-tailed monkey
グ　グウ　おながざる (Kentei 1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
rump, footprint radical (no. 114)
ジュウ　ニュ　あしあと
upside-down box radical (no. 13)
キョウ　ケイ (Kentei 1)
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ　ボウ　ム (Kentei 1)