一概に

• 読み: いちがいに
• ローマ字: ichigai ni
• 漢字の分解: 一 (ichi) — one; 概 (gai) — generally, approximate
• 発音: /i.tɕi.ɡa.i.ni/

意味

Unconditionally; sweepingly; as a rule. Used to caution against overgeneralisation.

An adverb almost always used with negative expressions (一概には言えない, 'one cannot say unconditionally'). It warns that a blanket statement does not hold true in all cases. This pattern is extremely common in essays, discussions, and formal speech when nuancing an argument.

例文

1. 若者が本を読まないとは一概には言えない。
2. 安いものが悪いとは一概に決められない。
3. 伝統的な方法が一概に正しいとは限らない。

使い方ガイド

場面: essays, debates, academic writing, discussions

トーン: analytical

起源と歴史

From Sino-Japanese 一 (ichi, one) + 概 (gai, generally/approximate). Literally 'in one approximate sweep,' referring to a single blanket judgement applied without distinction.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Educated