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刻一刻 (こくいっこく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle
moment by moment ; hour by hour ; with each passing moment
Describes a situation that changes or progresses continuously as time passes, often with a sense of urgency or inevitability. Commonly used with と (刻一刻と).
きょう
は
刻こく
一いっ
刻こく
と
変へん
化か
し
て
いる
。
The situation is changing with each passing moment.
Similar words 徐じょ 々じょ に 徐々に means 'gradually' and focuses on a slow, steady change over time, while 刻一刻 emphasizes the relentless, moment-by-moment progression, often with a sense of urgency.
次し 第だい に 次第に also means 'gradually' but implies a natural, step-by-step progression, whereas 刻一刻 highlights the continuous, tick-by-tick passage of time.
Etymology Reduplication of 刻 (こく, 'moment' or 'carved time'), literally 'moment by moment'. The reading いっこく comes from the kanji 一 (いち) + 刻 (こく) with a sound change, reinforcing the idea of each individual moment.
