Japanese word

いっそ

Pronunciation

Romajiisso

Meaning

  • adverbmight as well

Example

いっそ全部話します。i sso zen bu hana shi ma su

I might as well tell you everything.

Illustration for いっそ (might as well)

More examples

いっそ一人で行ったほうがいいです。i sso hito ri de okona tta hō ga i i de su

I might as well go alone.

Core concept

Marks a choice as the better course when the present situation is unsatisfactory, sometimes suggesting that a drastic decision is preferable.

Common phrases

  • いっそやめるi sso ya me ru

    might as well quit

  • いっそ忘れるi sso wasu re ru

    might as well forget

Similar words

むしろmushiro: Indicates that one option is preferable, often correcting an expected or previously stated choice.
かえってkaette: Shows that the result is opposite to what was expected.
あえてaete: Indicates a deliberate choice to do something difficult, unusual, or risky.

Definition in Japanese

今の状態を続けるよりも、思い切って別のことをするほうがよいと考えるさま。ima no jō tai o tsuzu ke ru yo ri mo omo i ki tte betsu no ko to o su ru hō ga yo i to kanga e ru sa ma

Word origin

The adverb いっそ (isso) is written with the characters 一層 (issō, "all the more"), whose older sense supports the idea of going further rather than stopping halfway.

Usage tips

  • The fuller expression いっそのこと (issō no koto) commonly appears when a speaker rejects a compromise and selects the more extreme option.

Other meanings

  • ratheradverb

Word lists with this word