一切(いっさい)

いっさい
adverb, noun
all; entirely; (not) at all; everything
formalbusinesslegalquantity
1. (not) at all; entirely; absolutely (with negative)
Used with negative expressions to mean "not at all" or "absolutely not." Emphasizes complete absence or denial.
彼(かれ)のことは一切(いっさい)知(し)らない。
I don't know anything about him at all.
責任(せきにん)は一切(いっさい)負(お)いません。
We take absolutely no responsibility.
一切(いっさい)関係(かんけい)ないと言(い)い張(は)った。
They insisted they had nothing to do with it at all.
この件(けん)については一切(いっさい)コメントを控(ひか)えさせていただきます。
We will refrain from making any comments whatsoever on this matter.
酒(さけ)も煙草(たばこ)も一切(いっさい)やらないので、健康(けんこう)診断(しんだん)の結果(けっか)はいつも良好(りょうこう)だ。
I don't drink or smoke at all, so my health checkup results are always good.
2. all; everything; the whole
Refers to everything without exception. Often used with nouns to mean "all of something."
引(ひ)っ越(こ)しの準備(じゅんび)から手続(てつづ)きまで一切(いっさい)を業者(ぎょうしゃ)に任(まか)せた。
I left everything from moving preparations to paperwork to the service company.
費用(ひよう)は一切(いっさい)会社(かいしゃ)が負担(ふたん)します。
The company will cover all expenses.
退職(たいしょく)にあたり、一切(いっさい)の未払(みはら)い金(きん)を精算(せいさん)する必要(ひつよう)がある。
Upon resignation, all outstanding payments need to be settled.
彼(かれ)は事故(じこ)の後(あと)、一切(いっさい)の記憶(きおく)を失(うしな)った。
After the accident, he lost all of his memories.

Usage

一切(いっさい) is an absolute quantifier. With a negative predicate it denies something completely; as a noun with の it sweeps in everything of a kind. Both uses belong to formal registers — notices, contracts, public statements — and both are emphatic rather than merely descriptive.

Functions

1) WITH NEGATIVE: Emphasizes complete absence

2) AS NOUN: Everything, all

Common expressions

Similar words

  • 一切(いっさい): absolute and formal - the standard choice in notices, contracts, and official statements.
  • 全然(ぜんぜん): the everyday spoken equivalent of 'not at all.'
  • 全(まった)く: 'completely (not)' - neutral, usable in both speech and writing.
  • 決(けっ)して: 'never, by no means' - stresses the speaker's resolve or firm denial rather than sheer quantity.

All four require a negative predicate. Replacing 一切(いっさい) with 全然(ぜんぜん) in a written notice would sound too casual.

Register

一切(いっさい) is commonly used in disclaimers, contracts, and formal notices to express absolute terms.

Etymology

From Buddhist terminology meaning "all things" or "everything."

Related Words

Related: 全然(ぜんぜん) ((not) at all (spoken))
Related: 全(まった)く (completely (not))
Related: 決(けっ)して (never, by no means)
Compare: 万事(ばんじ) (everything)
Compare: 合切(がっさい) (all)
core
Added 2026.1.18 13:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
06500/06662_issai