also: ゆきがかり
noun
circumstances; the way things have developed
Refers to a situation one is caught up in, often implying that events have led unavoidably to the current state. Commonly used in the phrase 行きがかり上 (いきがかりじょう), meaning 'given the circumstances' or 'as things have turned out'.
行きがかり上、彼の提案を受け入れざるを得なかった。
Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to accept his proposal.
行きがかりで、その計画に参加することになった
As things turned out, I ended up joining the project.
Alternate reading ゆきがかり; less common than いきがかり.
Alternate kanji form using 掛.
Less common variant with 掛り.
成り行き focuses on the natural course of events or how a situation unfolds, while 行きがかり emphasizes being caught up in circumstances, often with a sense of inevitability or obligation.
勢い can mean 'momentum' or 'force of circumstances', but it often implies energy or impetus, whereas 行きがかり is more about the situational context that compels action.
Compound of 行き (iki, 'going', continuative form of 行く) + 掛かり (kakari, 'being in the middle of', continuative form of 掛かる). Literally 'in the middle of going', it developed the sense of being caught up in a course of events.