1.
in one go; all at once; without stopping
Describes completing an action rapidly and without pause or interruption. Emphasizes speed and continuity.
水を一気に飲んだ。
I drank the water in one gulp.
宿題を一気に片付けた。
I finished my homework in one go.
この小説は面白くて、一気に最後まで読んでしまった。
This novel was so interesting that I read it all the way through without stopping.
2.
suddenly; dramatically
Describes a sudden, large-scale change in a situation or condition.
気温が一気に下がった。
The temperature dropped suddenly.
桜が咲いて、街が一気に華やかになった。
The cherry blossoms bloomed and the town became vibrant all at once.
あのニュースで株価が一気に上昇した。
Stock prices surged dramatically on that news.
USAGE:
Sense 1 focuses on doing something without interruption — drinking, reading, climbing, etc. Sense 2 describes a rapid, dramatic change in conditions like temperature, mood, or prices. Both senses share the core idea of something happening swiftly and completely.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一気に飲む (to drink in one gulp)
- 一気に読む (to read in one sitting)
- 一気に片付ける (to finish in one go)
- 一気に加速する (to accelerate rapidly)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- いっぺんに: all at once — emphasizes doing multiple things simultaneously rather than speed
- 一挙に: in one stroke — more formal, often used for decisive actions