折 角(せっかく)

せっかく

adverb, no-adjective

with effort, at great pains, long-awaited

1. with effort, at great pains

Indicating that something required considerable effort or trouble; often implying the effort may be wasted.

I came all this way but it was closed.

The food I took the trouble to make has gotten cold.

I went to the trouble of buying it, but never used it even once.

2. specially, expressly

Going out of one's way to do something; taking special trouble.

Since you came all this way, please take your time and relax.

Since you've gone to the trouble, I'll have some.

Since we've come all the way to Kyoto, let's go see a shrine.

3. long-awaited, rare opportunity

A rare or precious opportunity that shouldn't be wasted.

折角(せっかく)のチャンスだ。

It's a rare opportunity.

Since it's a precious day off, let's go out.

Since it's such a rare opportunity, please do participate.

折角(せっかく) expresses that effort has been made or an opportunity is special/rare. It often appears in two patterns:

USAGE (wasted effort):
折角(せっかく)〜のに (despite taking the trouble to...)
Implies disappointment when effort doesn't pay off.

USAGE (rare opportunity):
折角(せっかく)の〜だから (since it's such a rare ~)
Encourages making the most of a special chance.

折角(せっかく) vs. わざわざ: 折角(せっかく) focuses on the value of the effort or opportunity itself, often with regret if it goes to waste (senses 1 and 3). わざわざ focuses on the fact that someone went out of their way when it wasn't strictly necessary, and is common in expressions of thanks (わざわざ来(き)てくれてありがとう, thanks for coming all this way). The two overlap in sense 2 (折角(せっかく)来(き)てくれた and わざわざ来(き)てくれた are both natural), but only 折角(せっかく) works for a wasted opportunity (折角(せっかく)買(か)ったのに, not わざわざ).

Related Words

general

Added 2026.1.14 7:31 · Revised 2026.10.10 16:55

04000/04361_sekkaku