一気に（いっきに、iっkini）
- at once

The Japanese word 一気に (いっきに) means "all at once," "in one go," "at a stretch," "suddenly," or "rapidly." It describes doing something completely, without breaks or hesitations, or experiencing something quickly and all at once. It emphasizes a single action or event, often implying a sense of speed or completeness. It can also describe a dramatic or sudden change.

⚫︎ジュースを一気に飲み干した。 Translation: I chugged the juice down in one go. ⚫︎一気に問題を解いた。 Translation: I solved the problems all at once. ⚫︎株価が一気に上がった。 Translation: The stock price rose suddenly.

⚫︎一気に is typically used as an adverb. It modifies a verb to describe how an action is performed. ⚫︎It is used when you want to express doing something completely and quickly. ⚫︎It can also be used to describe a sudden change or event.

⚫︎The word 一気に is written in hiragana as いっきに. ⚫︎The kanji form is 一気に, with 一 (ichi - one) and 気 (ki - spirit, energy, mood). The entire word uses the okurigana に. ⚫︎There are no other common ways to write this word.

⚫︎まとめて (matomete) - all together, in one batch ⚫︎一度に (ichido ni) - at once, at the same time ⚫︎急に (kyū ni) - suddenly

⚫︎ゆっくりと (yukkuri to) - slowly, leisurely ⚫︎少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu) - little by little ⚫︎徐々に (jojo ni) - gradually

試験問題を一気に解き終わりました。 ・Translation: I finished solving the exam questions all at once. ・Explanation: This sentence describes completing the exam questions in a single, uninterrupted effort.

彼は一気にマラソンを走りきった。 ・Translation: He ran the marathon at a stretch. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes that he ran the entire marathon without stopping.

The etymology of 一気に comes from 一 (ichi - one) and 気 (ki - spirit, energy, mood). The meaning of 一 here emphasizes completeness or single instance, while 気 refers to a feeling or situation. The combination creates the meaning of doing something in a single breath or all at once.