Proverb / Kotowaza
一か八か
Taking a bold risk and leaving the outcome to luck when the result is uncertain.
One or eight
Quick Answer
Taking a bold risk and leaving the outcome to luck when the result is uncertain.
- Literal Image
- One or eight
- Closest Equivalent
- It’s all or nothing
- How to Use It
- Used when someone decides to take a big risk or make a final attempt at something with an uncertain outcome.
Meaning
Taking a decisive action without knowing if it will succeed or fail. It refers to a "sink or swim" situation where one gambles on a single attempt, entrusting the final result to fate.
Literal Image
One or eight
Equivalent Proverbs
It’s all or nothing
Focuses on the binary outcome of total success or total failure.
Make or break
Used for a decisive moment that leads to either success or ruin.
How to Use It
Used when someone decides to take a big risk or make a final attempt at something with an uncertain outcome.
Tone
Carries a sense of determination mixed with the recognition of risk.
Examples
もう時間がない。一か八か、明日の朝一番で直接社長に掛け合ってみよう。
There's no more time. Sink or swim, I'll try talking to the president first thing tomorrow morning.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic numbers and the 'ka' particle, but the overall meaning is highly idiomatic and opaque to learners.
一
いち / ichi
one
八
ばち / bachi
eight
か
ka
or (particle)
Usage Profile
Usage note: While it can be used for bold determination, it implies a high degree of uncertainty and reliance on luck.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as a choice between the numbers one and eight; it represents a choice between two outcomes (success or failure).
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression originated from gambling terminology. One theory suggests that '一' (one) represented the symbol for 'cho' (even) and '八' (eight) was a simplified form of 'han' (odd) used in dice games. Another theory claims that '一' and '八' are parts of the kanji characters for '丁' (cho) and '半' (han). It evolved from the choice between two gambling outcomes to mean taking a bold chance in any situation.
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