Learning how to say “once” in Japanese can be incredibly useful, whether you’re just starting your language journey or looking to brush up on your skills. In this guide, we’ll explore various formal and informal ways to express this concept. While regional variations exist, we’ll focus on commonly used phrases and provide tips and examples to enhance your understanding. So let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Once”
When speaking formally, there are a few different ways to express “once” in Japanese. Let’s explore them below:
1. いちど (Ichido)
This is a commonly used term, especially in formal contexts. It directly translates to “one time” or “once.” For example:
会 (かい) はいちどあります。
(Kai wa ichido arimasu.)
I have a meeting once.
Note: If you’re using this phrase as an adverb (e.g., “I only went once”), you can add the particle だけ (dake) at the end. For example:
いちどだけ行 (い) きました。
(Ichido dake ikimashita.)
I only went once.
2. たび (Tabi)
This word means “time” or “occasion” and can be used in a more formal setting. It implies an event or action happening repeatedly. For instance:
日 (にち) 本 (ほん) にいちど行 (い) ったことがありますか。
(Nihon ni ichido itta koto ga arimasu ka?)
Have you ever been to Japan?
Note: Similar to the previous phrase, you can use the particle だけ (dake) to specify “only once.” For example:
日 (にち) 本 (ほん) にいちどだけ行 (い) ったことがあります。
(Nihon ni ichido dake itta koto ga arimasu.)
I have only been to Japan once.
Informal Ways to Say “Once”
Now, let’s explore more casual ways of expressing “once” in Japanese to adapt to informal situations:
1. いっぺん (Ippen)
This colloquial term is commonly used among friends and acquaintances. It’s a simpler way to say “once” and is often used in conversation. Here’s an example:
映 (えい) 画 (が) 館 (かん) にいっぺん行 (い) ってみたことありますか。
(Eigakan ni ippen itte mita koto arimasu ka?)
Have you ever tried going to the movie theater once?
2. かつて (Katsute)
While slightly more formal than the previous phrase, “かつて” is still considered informal and often used in storytelling or reminiscing about past experiences. Here’s an example:
かつて、その町 (まち) にいちどだけ行 (い) ったことがあります。
(Katsute, sono machi ni ichido dake itta koto ga arimasu.)
Once, I went to that town.
Common Examples and Tips
Here are some additional examples and tips to further enhance your understanding of how to use “once” in Japanese:
- Example 1: 一回 (いっかい) (ikkai) is another word you can use to mean “once” but it’s less commonly used in daily conversations.
- Example 2: When talking about experiences, you can use the structure “Verb (past tense) + ことがある” (koto ga aru) to indicate you have done something once. For example, “飲 (の) み会 (かい) にいっぱい参 (さん) 加 (か) したことがあります” (Nomikai ni ippai sankashita koto ga arimasu) means “I have participated once in a drinking party.”
- Tip 1: If you want to specify a “once in a lifetime” experience, you can use the phrase “一生 (いっしょう) にいちど” (isshou ni ichido). For example, “一生に一度、日本に行ってみたい” (Isshou ni ichido, Nihon ni itte mitai) means “I want to go to Japan once in a lifetime.”
- Tip 2: In casual conversations, Japanese people often use “一回だけ” (ikkai dake) to mean “only once.” For instance, “彼 (かれ) と一回だけデートしたことがあります” (Kare to ikkai dake deeto shita koto ga arimasu) means “I went on a date with him only once.”
Congratulations! You now have a solid grasp of how to say “once” in Japanese. Remember to practice using these phrases in various contexts to further improve your language skills. Enjoy your Japanese language journey!
