いつか

• Reading: いつか
• Romaji: itsuka
• Pronunciation: /i.tsɯ.ka/

Meaning

Sometime; someday; one day. Refers to an unspecified time in the future or past.

An adverb that can point to both future hopes (いつか日本に行きたい, I want to go to Japan someday) and vague past recollections (いつか読んだ本, a book I once read). Context determines direction. Written in hiragana in modern usage; the kanji form ５日 is reserved for the fifth day of the month.

Examples

1. いつか世界一周旅行をしたい。 I want to travel around the world someday.
2. いつかどこかで会ったことがある気がする。 I feel like I've met you somewhere before.
3. この努力がいつか実を結ぶと信じている。 I believe this hard work will pay off one day.

Usage Guide

Context: hopes, memories, dreams

Tone: wistful

Origin & History

Compound of いつ (itsu, when) and the particle か (ka, question/indefinite marker). Literally 'when?' turned indefinite — 'at some unspecified when.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal