【No. 0597】Ichi ka Bachi ka (One or Eight)
Aug 6, 2016 16:21
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese idiom "ichi ka bachi ka."
"Ichi" means "one," "ka" means "or," "bachi" means "eight," and "ichi ka bachi ka" means something like "I don't know what the result will be, but I'll take my chances."
(My dictionary says that "ichi ka bachi ka" means "all or nothing," "sink or swim," or "hit or miss.")
This is originally a gambling term, and it's said that "ichi" (一) and "hachi" (八) comes from the top parts of kanji of "cho" (丁) and "han" (半), respectively.
(In the past, we mainly bet on whether the sum of two dice would be even (cho) or odd (han) in gambling places.)
There is another theory that insists "ichi ka bachi ka" comes from "ichi ka batsu ka" (the dice shows one, or you will receive punishment.).
Anyway, the etymology is gambling using dice.
"Ichi" means "one," "ka" means "or," "bachi" means "eight," and "ichi ka bachi ka" means something like "I don't know what the result will be, but I'll take my chances."
(My dictionary says that "ichi ka bachi ka" means "all or nothing," "sink or swim," or "hit or miss.")
This is originally a gambling term, and it's said that "ichi" (一) and "hachi" (八) comes from the top parts of kanji of "cho" (丁) and "han" (半), respectively.
(In the past, we mainly bet on whether the sum of two dice would be even (cho) or odd (han) in gambling places.)
There is another theory that insists "ichi ka bachi ka" comes from "ichi ka batsu ka" (the dice shows one, or you will receive punishment.).
Anyway, the etymology is gambling using dice.
一か八か
今日は日本の慣用句「一か八か」を紹介します。
「一か八か」は、「結果がどうなるかはわからないけれど、運に任せて挑戦してみること」を意味します。
元々この言葉は賭博用語であり、「一」は「丁」（偶数）、「八」は「半」（奇数）の漢字の上部分をとったものだと言われています。
（かつての日本の賭博では、主に2つのサイコロの目の合計が偶数（丁）か奇数（半）かを賭けていました。）
もう一つの説として、「（サイコロの目が）一か罰か」が変化したというものもあります。
いずれにしても、サイコロによる賭博が由来です。
今日は日本の慣用句「一か八か」を紹介します。
「一か八か」は、「結果がどうなるかはわからないけれど、運に任せて挑戦してみること」を意味します。
元々この言葉は賭博用語であり、「一」は「丁」（偶数）、「八」は「半」（奇数）の漢字の上部分をとったものだと言われています。
（かつての日本の賭博では、主に2つのサイコロの目の合計が偶数（丁）か奇数（半）かを賭けていました。）
もう一つの説として、「（サイコロの目が）一か罰か」が変化したというものもあります。
いずれにしても、サイコロによる賭博が由来です。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 ron_s
- Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese idiom "ichi ka bachi ka."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- "Ichi" means "one," "ka" means "or," "bachi" means "eight," and "ichi ka bachi ka" means something like "I don't know what the result will be, but I'll take my chances."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- (My dictionary says that "ichi ka bachi ka" means "all or nothing," "sink or swim," or "hit or miss.")
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- This is originally a gambling term, and it's said that "ichi" (一) and "hachi" (八) comes from the top parts of kanji of "cho" (丁) and "han" (半), respectively.
- This is originally a gambling term, and it's said that "ichi" (一) and "hachi" (八) come from the top parts of kanji's "cho" (丁) and "han" (半), respectively.
- (In the past, we mainly bet on whether the sum of two dice would be even (cho) or odd (han) in gambling places.)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- There is another theory that insists "ichi ka bachi ka" comes from "ichi ka batsu ka" (the dice shows one, or you will receive punishment.).
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Anyway, the etymology is gambling using dice.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)