Japanese word

きっかけ

Pronunciation

Romajikikkake

Meaning

  • nountrigger

Example

先生の言葉が、毎日勉強するきっかけになりました。sen sei no koto ba ga mai nichi ben kyō su ru ki kka ke ni na ri ma shi ta

The teacher's words prompted me to study every day.

Illustration for きっかけ (trigger)

More examples

新しい趣味を始めるきっかけを探しています。atara shi i shu mi o haji me ru ki kka ke o saga shi te i ma su

I am looking for an opportunity to start a new hobby.

Core concept

Shows the event, condition, or reason that sets an action in motion.

Common phrases

  • きっかけになるki kka ke ni na ru

    serve as a trigger

  • きっかけを作るki kka ke o tsuku ru

    create an opportunity

  • 会話のきっかけkai wa no ki kka ke

    conversation starter

Similar words

契機keiki: An event or change that leads to a new action or situation.
機会kikai: A situation that makes it possible or timely to do something.
動機dōki: The personal reason or purpose behind an action.
理由riyū: A reason for doing something or for a situation.

Definition in Japanese

ある出来事や言葉などが、行動を始める手がかりとなること。a ru de ki goto ya koto ba na do ga kō dō o haji me ru te ga ka ri to na ru ko to

Word origin

The word きっかけ (kikkake) is commonly connected with 切り掛け (kirikake), meaning the beginning of an action such as cutting, and later came to mean a starting point or reason.

Usage tips

  • English trigger often suggests a harmful event, but きっかけ (kikkake) commonly describes a positive starting point, such as meeting someone or hearing advice.

Other meanings

  • opportunitynoun
  • reasonnoun

Word lists with this word