一度
ichido[it͡ɕido̞]
In Japanese, the phrase "once" can be expressed as 一度 (ichido), 一回 or 一遍.
Meaning: one and only one time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 一度 | ichido | [it͡ɕido̞] (narrow) [çi̥to̞ta̠bʲi] (narrow) |
| 一回 | ikkai | [ik̚ka̠i] (narrow) |
| 一遍 | ippen |
These terms are used to express that something happens one and only one time. You can use 一回だけ in casual conversation to emphasize the meaning "only once." To describe a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the phrase 一生に一度 is used. Sometimes, adding the particle は to 一度 creates the nuance of "at least once" or "once in a while," depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 一度 is composed of 一, meaning "one," and 度, meaning "time," "occurrence," or "degree."
Which one should you use?
While 一度 and 一回 both mean "once," 一回 is more commonly used when counting discrete, countable occurrences or repetitions of an action.
How does it change in a sentence?
The counters used for these words follow specific patterns.
How do you pronounce it?
ichido
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 一度 is used in the phrase 一度に to mean 'all at once' or 'simultaneously'. This shifts the meaning from a single repetition to a single moment in time.
- The counter 度 in 一度 is also used to measure temperature and angles. This is because both concepts relate to a 'degree' or a specific point on a scale.
- The kanji for 回 in 一回 is a pictograph originally representing a thing or a pattern that circles or returns, which is why it is used for counting repetitions.
Examples in context
- もう一回やろうよ。Let's do it once more.This sentence is useful for suggesting doing something one more time using the form 一回.Tatoeba #9931820 by small_snow, translation #6301168 by Luornu
- 年に一回してるよ。I do it once a year.This sentence is useful for stating a frequency of once per year using the form 一回.Tatoeba #10138301 by small_snow, translation #5791308 by CK
- もう一度やってみて。Try it once again.This sentence is useful for suggesting a single attempt using the form 一度.Tatoeba #1034968 by bunbuku, translation #31497 by CK
- 日 (にち) 本 (ほん) にいちどだけ行 (い) ったことがあります。I have only been to Japan once.
- 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。Have you ever tried going to the movie theater once?
- 一生に一度、日本に行ってみたいI want to go to Japan once in a lifetime.
- 彼 (かれ) と一回だけデートしたことがありますI went on a date with him only once.
- 165 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about a movie they saw.
- 陽太 Yota一度だけ見たよ。Ichido dake mita yo.I saw it only once.
- 美咲 Misaki一度だけで満足なの？Ichido dake de manzoku nano?Are you satisfied with just once?
- 陽太 Yotaすごく面白かったからね。Sugoku omoshirokatta kara ne.Because it was really interesting.
- 美咲 Misaki次は一緒に見よう。Tsugi wa issho ni miyou.Let's watch it together next time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “once” translations and entries 一度, 一回, 一遍, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 一回, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
