Japanese meaning of 乾坤一擲
Reading:
けんこんいってき (kenkon itteki)
English Translation:
A bold, once-in-a-lifetime gamble
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
A make-or-break throw—staking everything on a single decisive move when incrementalism won’t suffice.
Cultural Context:
Evokes war councils and boardroom showdowns; powerful but heavy—best reserved for truly pivotal decisions, not routine choices.
天地の行方を賭す一擲。小出しでは届かぬ局面で全てを懸ける決断。
軍議や経営の土壇場を想起させる強い修辞。日常の軽い選択には過剰になりやすく、要所で慎重に使う語。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “の勝負” or “に出る” to describe staking everything on one decisive move (“乾坤一擲の勝負”).
• Common in gambling, strategy, or turning-point situations.
Trap for English Speakers
Could be mistaken for frequent risk-taking, but it’s a *once-in-a-lifetime* gamble.
Example
Basic Example
乾坤一擲の勝負に出た。
I took a once-in-a-lifetime gamble.
Applied Example
乾坤一擲の勝負に出た彼の姿は、スポーツ漫画のクライマックスそのものだった。
His bold, once-in-a-lifetime gamble was straight out of a sports manga climax.