Introducing the coolest Japanese phrases, as chosen by the Japanese people themselves.
This time, it’s the three-letter word edition.
Two-Character Edition is here
Three-Character Edition is here
- 一騎当千(ikkitosen)
- 疾風怒濤(shippudoto)
- 泰然自若(taizenjijaku)
- 八面玲瓏(hachimenreiro)
- 猛虎伏草(mokofukuso)
- 鬼面仏心(kimembusshin)
- 国士無双(kokushimuso)
- 百折不撓(hyakusetsufuto)
- 万里一空(banriikku)
- 駑馬十駕(dobajuga)
一騎当千(ikkitosen)
■The Meaning of “一騎当千(ikkitosen)”
Being so exceptionally strong that one can take on a thousand opponents alone.
By extension, it is used to describe individuals possessing:
・Overwhelming skill
・Irreplaceable value
・Outstanding ability within a group.
In modern usage, it has also become established as an expression emphasizing high levels of expertise or practical ability, such as:
“In this field, they’re 一騎当千(ikkitosen).”
■The Origin of “一騎当千(ikkitosen)”
From the Chinese historical text Romance of the Three Kingdoms
“一騎当千(ikkitosen)” is a phrase originating from the Chinese historical text Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
As an expression praising a warrior’s valor,
it used the exaggerated description of possessing strength
equivalent to “one horseman(一騎) (a single mounted soldier) against a thousand men(当千).”
It carries a nuance particularly close to the assessment of outstanding generals
like Lü Bu, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
