Japanese word

一向

Pronunciation

Romajiikkō

Meaning

  • adverbnot at all

Example

電車が一向に来ません。den sha ga ik kō ni ki ma se n

The train is not coming at all.

Illustration for 一向 (not at all)

More examples

この問題は、説明を読んでも一向に分かりません。ko no mon dai wa setsu mei o yo n de mo ik kō ni wa ka ri ma se n

I still do not understand this problem at all, even after reading the explanation.

Core concept

It presents something as showing no progress or producing no result at all, usually against what is expected.

Common phrases

  • 一向に分からないik kō ni wa ka ra na i

    not understand at all

  • 一向に良くならないik kō ni yo ku na ra na i

    not get better at all

  • 一向に終わらないik kō ni o wa ra na i

    not end at all

Similar words

全然zenzen: It emphasizes the complete absence of a result or change, usually with a negative expression.
ちっともchittomo: It emphasizes that something does not happen or is not true even to a small degree.
さっぱりsappari: It shows that a situation has produced no result or improvement at all.

Definition in Japanese

否定の表現とともに用い、全然。少しも。hi tei no hyō gen to to mo ni mochi i zen zen suko shi mo

Word origin

一向 (ikkō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 一 (ichi, "one") and 向 (kō, "direction"). The sense of being single-minded or constant came to be used with negative predicates to mean "not at all".

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 全然 (zenzen) is more common than 一向に (ikkō ni), which often sounds more formal and describes a situation that fails to change.

Opposites

Word lists with this word