一いち応おう

い

ち

お

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb

more or less; roughly; pretty much; technically

Expresses that something is done or true to a certain extent, though not perfectly or completely. Often used to soften a statement or acknowledge a partial truth.

一

いち

応おう

、

宿しゅく

題だい

は

終お

わっ

た

けど

、

まだ

見み

直なお

し

が

必ひつ

要よう

だ

。

I've more or less finished my homework, but I still need to review it.

彼かれは一いち応おう医い者しゃだけど、あまり経けい験けんがない。

He's technically a doctor, but he doesn't have much experience.

2

noun, adverb

tentatively; for the time being

Indicates a provisional action or arrangement, often with the implication that it may change later.

一いち応おう、明日あしたの会かい議ぎは10時じに設せっ定ていしておきます。
For the time being, I'll set tomorrow's meeting for 10 o'clock.

3

noun, adverb

just in case; to be on the safe side

Used when taking a precautionary action, even if it might not be necessary.

雨あめが降ふるかもしれないから、一いち応おう傘かさを持もっていく。
It might rain, so I'll take an umbrella just in case.

4

noun, adverb

once

Rare, mostly literary or archaic use meaning 'once' or 'one time'. In modern Japanese, 一度 (いちど) is the standard word.

古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは「一いち応おう」が「一いち度ど」の意い味みで使つかわれることがある。
In old texts, 一応 can be used to mean 'once'.

Usage patterns

一いち応おう〈動どう詞し〉ておくto do something now as a precaution, just in case
一いち応おう、傘かさを持もっておく。
I'll bring an umbrella just in case.
一いち応おう〈事こと〉が、〜to acknowledge something is technically/roughly true, but with reservations
一いち応おう完かん成せいしたが、まだ改かい善ぜん点てんがある。
It's technically finished, but there are still things to improve.
一いち応おう〈動どう詞し〉てみるto try doing something for now, without full commitment
一いち応おう、聞きいてみる。
I'll ask, just to see for now.
一いち応おう確かく認にんするto check something just to be safe
一いち応おう、予よ約やくを確かく認にんしておいた。
I confirmed the reservation just to be safe.

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
応apply, answer, yes
往journey, travel, chase away

Related words· 6

とりあえずN2sense 2
とりあえず is casual and stresses doing something quickly as a first step, while 一応 stresses provisionality or partial completeness.
一ひと通とおりN2sense 1
一通り means going through something roughly or completely once, while 一応 emphasizes a tentative or not-quite-satisfactory state.
ひとまずN2sense 2
ひとまず means 'for now, before anything else' and marks a clear pause point, while 一応 is vaguer about provisionality without implying a pause.
念ねんのためN2
一応 is a casual way to say 'for now' or 'tentatively', while 念のため specifically stresses caution or double-checking.

Show 2 more

まずN5
いちおう suggests doing something 'just in case' or for form's sake, whereas まず in this sense means something is acceptable to a reasonable degree.
まずは
一応 conveys that something is adequate for now in a tentative sense, close to まずは's meaning of 'reasonably satisfactory' in sense 3.

Don't confuse with

一いち度どN5sense 4
一応 can rarely mean 'once' in archaic/literary usage, but 一度 is the standard modern word for 'once' and should be used in everyday speech.

Written forms

一いち応おうUsage91%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and everyday writing.
いちおうUsage9%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the nuance is more important than the kanji.
一いち往おう
Alternate kanji form; rarely used in modern Japanese.

Etymology

Composed of 一 (one) and 応 (respond, apply). The original meaning was 'once' or 'one response', which evolved into 'for the time being' and then to the modern sense of 'tentatively' or 'more or less'.