Etymology of とにかく


I was wondering with anyone knew the etymology of とにかく or any of its variants.
The literal meaning doesn't make sense when you consider its actual meaning,
so I got curious.




It comes from Classical Japanese idiomatic phrase とにかくに, analyzed into と
("some way") + に ("in") + かく ("that way; such a way") + に ("in"), and as a
whole meant for "by some means or other" or "by any means".

The kanji you may often see ([兎に角](http://gogen-
allguide.com/to/tonikaku.html)) is ateji.




It comes from Classical Japanese idiomatic phrase とにかくに, analyzed into と
("some way") + に ("in") + かく ("that way; such a way") + に ("in"), and as a
whole meant for "by some means or other" or "by any means".

The kanji you may often see ([兎に角](http://gogen-
allguide.com/to/tonikaku.html)) is ateji.

