Japanese meaning of 一攫千金
Reading:
いっかくせんきん (ikkaku senkin)
English Translation:
Strike it rich / Windfall
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To obtain a large amount of wealth or benefit in a very short time, usually through luck, speculation, or a one-time opportunity rather than steady effort.
わずかな期間で突然大きな利益や財産を手に入れること。努力ではなく偶然や一攫千金のチャンスによる成功を指します。
Cultural Context:
Originating from gambling and speculative contexts, it is now used in business, lotteries, and sports to evoke the dream of sudden wealth.
賭博や投機に由来し、現代ではビジネス、宝くじ、スポーツなどで一気に大金を得る夢を表す。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase used with “を狙う” or “のチャンス” to express aiming for sudden wealth.
Trap for English Speakers
May be confused with legitimate steady earnings; the risky aspect is often lost.
Example
Basic Example
彼は宝くじで一攫千金を狙っている。
He’s aiming for sudden wealth in the lottery.
Applied Example
一攫千金を狙って挑んだ一打が、スタンド最上段に突き刺さった。
The swing aimed at winning a fortune in one go sent the ball crashing into the top row of the stands.