一体全体
ittai zentai
The English phrase "what in the world" is translated into Japanese as 一体全体 (ittai zentai).
一体全体 is used to add emphasis to interrogative words (like what, who, where, why) to express surprise, confusion or frustration.
Meaning: Translations (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 一体 (ittai), meaning 'one body' or 'one entity' and 全体 (zentai), meaning 'whole' or 'entirety'.
Which one should you use?
The shorter form 一体 (ittai) can be used on its own to mean 'on earth' or 'in the world', but 一体全体 (ittai zentai) provides a much stronger, more emphatic emphasis.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While grammatically standard, using this phrase often conveys a strong emotional tone and is common in colloquial or heated speech.
How do you pronounce it?
ittai zentai
Did you know?
- The phrase is often used in Japanese subtitles for mystery or detective anime to signal that a character is facing a truly inexplicable phenomenon.
- In formal or highly polite Japanese, you should avoid using 一体全体 because its heavy emotional weight can sound aggressive or accusatory to the listener.
- If you use 一体全体 with a very high pitch at the end of a question, it can shift from sounding genuinely confused to sounding mockingly sarcastic.
Examples in context
- 一体全体何やってんだよ？What in the world are you doing?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 一体全体 to ask what someone is doing.Tatoeba #9434927 by bunbuku, translation #66264 by CK
- 何てこった、どうして？(Nan te kotta, doushite?)What in the world, why?
- 一体何なの、本当に意味が分からないよ。(Ittai nanano, hontou imi ga wakaranai yo.)What in the world, I really can't understand the meaning.
- 一体全体、どういうつもりなんだ？ittai zentai, dou iu tsumori nan da?What in the world are you thinking?
Example conversation
A man and a woman find a mysterious, locked box in their living room.
- 大翔 Hiroto一体全体、これは何だ？ittai zentai, kore wa nan da?What in the world is this?
- 結衣 Yui分かりません。どこにあったんですか？wakarimasen. doko ni atta n desu ka?I don't know. Where was it?
- 大翔 Hirotoさっきまで、そこには何もなかったのに。sakki made, soko ni wa nani mo nakatta no ni.Until a moment ago, there was nothing there.
- 結衣 Yui本当に不思議ですね。hontou ni fushigi desu ne.It really is strange.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
