一石二鳥

• Reading: いっせきにちょう
• Romaji: isseki nichō
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (one) + 石 (stone) + 二 (two) + 鳥 (bird) → one stone, two birds
• Pronunciation: /is.se.ki.ni.tɕoː/

Meaning

Killing two birds with one stone — achieving two goals with a single action.

A widely-used four-character idiom (四字熟語) borrowed from the English proverb. Despite being imported, it has been fully naturalised into Japanese and is one of the most commonly used yojijukugo in daily conversation. It appeals to the Japanese value of efficiency and is used to praise clever solutions that solve multiple problems at once.

Examples

1. 散歩しながらポッドキャスト聞くの一石二鳥だよね。 Listening to podcasts while walking — that's killing two birds with one stone.
2. このアプリ、勉強と運動が同時にできて一石二鳥。 This app lets you study and exercise at the same time — two birds, one stone.
3. 自炊すれば節約と健康管理が一石二鳥でできる。 If you cook for yourself, you save money and eat healthy — two birds with one stone.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday conversation, work, writing

Tone: pragmatic, satisfied

Do Say

• 通勤中に英語の勉強すれば一石二鳥だよ (Studying English during your commute is killing two birds with one stone)
• お花見でチームビルディングもできて一石二鳥 (Hanami doubles as team building — two birds, one stone)

Don't Say

• 深刻な場面で「一石二鳥だね」は軽く聞こえる (Saying 'two birds one stone' in a serious situation sounds too casual)

Common Mistakes

• Mispronouncing as いっせきにとり (isseki nitori) instead of にちょう (nichō)
• Not realising it comes from English and assuming it is a purely Japanese proverb

Origin & History

Borrowed from the English proverb 'to kill two birds with one stone.' Adopted into Japanese as a four-character idiom (四字熟語) during the Meiji era and became one of the most recognisable imported expressions.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji era adoption, universally used today

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most commonly recognised four-character idioms.