一切

• Reading: いっさい
• Romaji: issai
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (ichi) — one | 切 (sai) — cut, all, complete
• Pronunciation: /i.s.sa.i/

Meaning

Everything; all; entirely; without exception. Used to express totality, often in negative or sweeping statements.

As a noun/adverb, 一切 often pairs with negative predicates (一切〜ない) to mean 'absolutely not' or 'none whatsoever', creating emphatic negation. In positive contexts it means 'everything' or 'all things'. Appears heavily in formal declarations, legal language, and emphatic speech.

Examples

1. その件については一切コメントしないと、広報担当者は述べた。 The spokesperson stated that they would make absolutely no comment on the matter.
2. 責任の一切を自分が引き受けると彼は宣言した。 He declared that he would take full responsibility for everything.
3. 過去のことは一切忘れ、新しいスタートを切ることにした。 He decided to put the entire past behind him and make a fresh start.

Usage Guide

Context: legal language, formal declarations, journalism, official statements

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of 一 (ichi) meaning 'one' and 切 (sai/kiri) meaning 'cutting, all, completely'. The sense of 'cutting through everything' gives the word its totalising force, rooted in Buddhist and classical Chinese usage.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal