一方的

• Reading: いっぽうてき
• Romaji: ippouteki
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (ichi/ip) — one; 方 (pou/hou) — direction, side; 的 (teki) — -like
• Pronunciation: /ip.poː.te.ki/

Meaning

One-sided; unilateral. Describes actions or situations where only one party acts or benefits.

A na-adjective ending in 的 used for situations lacking reciprocity or balance: 一方的な話 (a one-sided conversation), 一方的に決める (to decide unilaterally), 一方的な攻撃 (a one-sided attack). Often carries a negative nuance of unfairness or imbalance.

Examples

1. 彼は一方的に契約を解除した。 He unilaterally terminated the contract.
2. 一方的な話し方では相手に伝わらない。 A one-sided way of speaking won't get through to the other person.
3. 試合は一方的な展開になった。 The game turned into a one-sided affair.

Usage Guide

Context: news, relationships, legal

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Compound of 一方 (ippou, one side/one direction) and 的 (teki, -like). Together, 'having the quality of one side only' — action or influence flowing in a single direction.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal