一度きり
ichido kiri
The English phrase "yolo" can be expressed in Japanese as 一度きり (ichido kiri).
While "yolo" is an English acronym, the Japanese phrase 一度きり is used to express the same sentiment: that life is a one-time occurrence.
Meaning: you only live once (phrase)
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase as a complete sentence in a casual context, you can add the copula だ (da) to the end, forming 一度きりだ.
How do you pronounce it?
ichido kiri
Did you know?
- The concept of 一度きり is closely tied to the Japanese aesthetic of 'mono no aware'. This is the bittersweet realization that things are beautiful precisely because they are temporary and will eventually vanish.
- The word きり (kiri) in 一度きり acts as a limit marker. In Japanese, this same grammatical structure can be used to describe a relationship that has ended forever, such as saying you will never see someone 'again'.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'yolo' is often linked to the Buddhist principle of 'ichigo ichie', which suggests that every encounter is a unique, unrepeatable moment.
Examples in context
- 人生は一度きりだから、楽しもう。Jinsei wa ichido kiri dakara, tanoshimou.Since you only live once, let's enjoy it.
- 一度きりのチャンスを逃さないで。Ichido kiri no chansu o nogasanaide.Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
- 人生は一度きり。思い切って挑戦するよ。Jinsei wa ichido kiri. Omoikitte chousen suru yo.You only live once. I'm going to take the plunge and try it.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding whether to go on a sudden trip.
- 陽太 Yota本当に今から行くの？hontou ni ima kara iku no?Are we really going right now?
- 美咲 Misaki人生は一度きりだよ。行こう！jinsei wa ichido kiri dayo. ikou!You only live once. Let's go!
- 陽太 Yotaまあ、確かにそうだね。maa, tashika ni sou dane.Well, that's true.
- 美咲 Misakiよし、準備して出発しよう！yoshi, junbi shite shuppatsu shiyou!Alright, let's get ready and leave!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yolo” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
