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一か八か. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
一か八か, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
一か八か in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
一か八か you have here. The definition of the word
一か八か will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
一か八か, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
Etymology
Unknown. Perhaps from gambling parlance, from 一か罰か (ichi ka bachi ka, “one or nothing”, literally “one or punishment”); or from the top strokes of the kanji in the phrase 丁か半か (chō ka han ka, literally “even or odd”), from the game of chōhan. The spelling is jukujikun (熟字訓).
Pronunciation
Phrase
一か八か • (ichikabachika)
- (idiomatic) sinking or swimming; all or nothing
- 一か八かやってみよう。
- Ichikabachika yatte miyō.
- I’ll take my chances.
- 一か八か。よし！
- Ichikabachika. Yoshi!
- Here goes nothing!