若気(わかげ)の至(いた)り

An idiomatic expression used to look back on past mistakes with a sense of self-deprecation or wry acceptance. It implies that the mistake was driven by youthful energy, overconfidence, or naivety rather than malice.

The word 若気(わかげ) refers to youthful spirit or impulsiveness, and 至(いた)り means "the height of" or "the extreme of," so the expression literally means "the extreme of youthful spirit."

Usage

Almost always used retrospectively — the speaker has matured and is reflecting on a past action. It carries a tone of mild embarrassment rather than deep regret. Often preceded by あれは or followed by だった.

Common collocations

• 若気(わかげ)の至(いた)りだった: it was a youthful indiscretion
• 若気(わかげ)の至(いた)りで〜してしまった: ended up doing ~ out of youthful folly
• 若気(わかげ)の至(いた)りと言(い)えば若気(わかげ)の至(いた)り: if you call it youthful folly, that's what it was

Similar words

• 血気(けっき)にはやる: to be hot-blooded and impulsive (describes the state, not a past reflection)
• 後悔(こうかい): regret (more general and serious in tone)