一いち翼よく

い

ち

よ

く

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

one wing

Literal use for one wing of a bird, aircraft, model, etc.; in everyday speech 片翼 or 片方の翼 may be more common when simply saying 'one of the wings.'

模も型けい飛ひ行こう機きの一いち翼よくが折おれてしまった。
One wing of the model airplane broke.

noun

role; part; share in a larger effort

Usually appears in the expression 一翼を担う, meaning to take on or play one part in a larger project, organization, field, or responsibility.

彼かれは研けん究きゅうチームの一いち翼よくを担になっている。
He plays a part in the research team.
この制せい度どは地ち域いき医い療りょうの一いち翼よくを担になっている。
This system plays a role in local medical care.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈組そ織しき〉の一いち翼よくを成なすto form one part of (an organization, movement, field, etc.)
この研けん究きゅう所しょは国くにの防ぼう衛えい体たい制せいの一いち翼よくを成なしている。
This institute forms one part of the country's defense system.
一いち翼よくを占しめるto hold/occupy a share or part (of a larger effort)
彼かの女じょはプロジェクトの一いち翼よくを占しめる重じゅう要ような人じん物ぶつだ。
She is an important person who holds a key part in the project.

Expressions

一いち翼よくを担になうplay a part; take a share; shoulder a portion of responsibility

Grammar

一人ひとり・二に本ほん・三さん冊さつnumbers and countersN5

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
翼wing, plane, flank

Related words

役やく割わりN3sense 2
役割 is the general everyday word for a role or function, while 一翼 is more formal and specifically evokes being one part of a larger collective effort.
一いっ端たん sense 2
一端 refers to one part or aspect of something in general, whereas 一翼 is more strongly tied to bearing or contributing part of a larger joint undertaking.

Don't confuse with

片かた翼よく sense 1
片翼 simply and literally means 'one wing' (of a pair), while 一翼 additionally carries the figurative sense of a role or share in a larger effort.

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound of 一, 'one,' and 翼, 'wing.' The figurative sense extends from being one wing or side of something to being one contributing part of a larger whole.