Japanese word

ことごとく

Pronunciation

Romajikotogotoku

Meaning

  • adverbentirely

Example

彼の努力はことごとく無駄になりました。kare no do ryoku wa ko to go to ku mu da ni na ri ma shi ta

His efforts were entirely wasted.

Illustration for ことごとく (entirely)

More examples

彼の予測はことごとく的中しました。kare no yo soku wa ko to go to ku teki chū shi ma shi ta

His predictions all proved correct.

Core concept

Emphasizes that an action, condition, or result applies to every relevant case with no exceptions.

Common phrases

  • ことごとく断るko to go to ku kotowa ru

    turn down every offer

  • ことごとく的中するko to go to ku teki chū su ru

    all prove correct

  • ことごとく失敗するko to go to ku ship pai su ru

    all fail

Similar words

すべてsubete: Includes every relevant item, person, or case in a group.
軒並みnokinami: Applies across an entire group when its members share the same condition or result.
残らずnokorazu: Covers every part or member of a group without anything being left out.

Definition in Japanese

ある範囲の物事が一つも例外なくすべて同じ状態や結果になるさま。a ru han i no mono goto ga hito tsu mo rei gai na ku su be te ona ji jō tai ya kek ka ni na ru sa ma

Word origin

The word ことごとく (kotogotoku, "entirely") is built from ことごと (kotogoto, "each and every thing") and く (ku), which creates an adverbial form.

Usage tips

  • The adverb ことごとく (kotogotoku, "entirely") often appears when every plan or attempt ends in the same unfavorable result, giving it a stronger tone than a neutral statement of totality.

Other meanings

  • alladverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word