Proverb / Kotowaza
一獲千金
Gaining a massive profit all at once with very little initial investment or effort.
Making a thousand pieces of gold in a single grab
Quick Answer
Gaining a massive profit all at once with very little initial investment or effort.
- Literal Image
- Making a thousand pieces of gold in a single grab
- How to Use It
- Can be used when discussing lotteries, risky business ventures, or the desire for sudden wealth.
Meaning
This expression describes a situation where someone acquires a huge amount of wealth or profit through a single successful venture or a stroke of luck. It implies obtaining riches without the usual long-term labor or significant capital investment.
Literal Image
Making a thousand pieces of gold in a single grab
How to Use It
Can be used when discussing lotteries, risky business ventures, or the desire for sudden wealth.
Tone
Carries a cautionary nuance, suggesting that such gains are rare and that steady work is more reliable.
Examples
彼は一獲千金を夢見て宝くじを買い続けている。
He continues to buy lottery tickets, dreaming of making a fortune at once.
事業が大成功し、一獲千金を手にした。
His business was a great success, and he made a massive profit in one go.
一獲千金を狙うよりも、地道な努力が大切だ。
Steady effort is more important than aiming for a get-rich-quick scheme.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the individual kanji are basic, as a four-character idiom (yojijukugo), it requires specific knowledge of the compound's meaning.
一獲
いっかく / ikkaku
one catch; a single grab
千金
せんきん / senkin
a thousand pieces of gold; a fortune
Usage Profile
Usage note: It can be used to contrast with the value of hard work, so be mindful of the context when using it for your own success.
Misread Risk
Do not assume it always refers to illegal gains; it can simply mean a very successful business or lottery win, though it implies a lack of steady effort.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The term 'ikkaku' means catching a single prey, and 'senkin' means a huge sum of money. Together, they describe the act of gaining a massive profit from a single endeavor or 'catch'.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.