一攫千金(いっかくせんきん)

いっかくせんきん
noun
making a fortune at a stroke; striking it rich
expression
1. making a fortune at a stroke; striking it rich; getting rich quick
Gaining a large amount of money or wealth all at once through a single opportunity. A four-character idiom (四字熟語). Literally means 'grab a thousand gold pieces in one swoop.'
一攫千金(いっかくせんきん)を夢見(ゆめみ)る。
To dream of striking it rich.
宝(たから)くじで一攫千金(いっかくせんきん)を狙(ねら)う。
To aim for a big win with the lottery.
一攫千金(いっかくせんきん)を狙(ねら)って株(かぶ)に投資(とうし)したが、大損(おおぞん)してしまった。
I invested in stocks hoping to strike it rich, but ended up with a huge loss.

A 四字熟語(よじじゅくご) (four-character idiom) meaning to get rich in one stroke.

Etymology

一(いち) (one) + 攫(かく) (seize/grab) + 千(せん) (thousand) + 金(きん) (gold) — "grab a thousand gold pieces in one swoop."

Common collocations

Usage

Often used with a cautionary tone, implying that such get-rich-quick schemes are risky, unrealistic, or reckless. Commonly appears in contexts about gambling, lotteries, or speculative investments.
The character 攫(かく) (seize) is uncommon outside this idiom.

general
Added 2026.3.22 12:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18500_ikkakusenkin