JLPT N1 Vocabulary
一
【いっそ】
(いっそ)
Definition: 意味
Rather, sooner, might as well
- Used to express a strong suggestion or preference for an action.
- Often implies a resigned or slightly forceful decision, suggesting that one option is better than a less desirable alternative.
- Can convey a sense of “just getting it over with” or “making a decisive choice” in a given situation.
- While the word “いっそ” is almost exclusively written in hiragana, the kanji 一 (one) is sometimes associated due to its phonetic component.
いっそ – Example Sentences 例文
Example #1
この仕事、終わらないなら、いっそ辞めてしまおうか。
Furigana: このしごと、おわらないなら、いっそやめてしまおうか。
Romaji: Kono shigoto, owaranai nara, isso yamete shimaou ka.
English: If this job never ends, maybe I should just quit.
Example #2
雨が降ってきた。傘がないなら、いっそ濡れて帰ろう。
Furigana: あめがふってきた。かさがないなら、いっそぬれてかえろう。
Romaji: Ame ga futte kita. Kasa ga nai nara, isso nurete kaerou.
English: It started raining. If I don’t have an umbrella, I might as well get soaked and go home.
Example #3
彼に本当の気持ちを伝えるなら、いっそ全て話してしまいたい。
Furigana: かれにほんとうのきもちをつたえるなら、いっそすべてはなしてしまいたい。
Romaji: Kare ni hontou no kimochi wo tsutaeru nara, isso subete hanashite shimaitai.
English: If I’m going to tell him my true feelings, I might as well tell him everything.
Example #4
こんなに待たされるなら、いっそ帰って寝た方がましだ。
Furigana: こんなにまたされるなら、いっそかえってねたほうがましだ。
Romaji: Konna ni matasareru nara, isso kaette neta hou ga mashi da.
English: If I have to wait this long, I’d rather go home and sleep.
Example #5
どうせやるなら、いっそ完璧にやり遂げたい。
Furigana: どうせやるなら、いっそかんぺきにやりとげたい。
Romaji: Douse yaru nara, isso kanpeki ni yaritogetai.
English: If I’m going to do it anyway, I might as well do it perfectly.
Example #6
もうどうでもいい。いっそこのまま消えてしまいたい。
Furigana: もうどうでもいい。いっそこんままきえてしまいたい。
Romaji: Mou dou demo ii. Isso kono mama kiete shimaitai.
English: I don’t care anymore. I’d rather just disappear like this.
Example #7
この服、似合わないと思うなら、いっそ買わない方がいい。
Furigana: このふく、にあわないとおもうなら、いっそかわないほうがいい。
Romaji: Kono fuku, niawanai to omou nara, isso kawanai hou ga ii.
English: If you think these clothes don’t suit you, you’d better not buy them.
Example #8
遅刻しそうなら、いっそゆっくり行って、遅刻してしまえ。
Furigana: ちこくしそうなら、いっそゆっくりいって、ちこくしてしまえ。
Romaji: Chikoku shisou nara, isso yukkuri itte, chikoku shite shimae.
English: If you’re going to be late anyway, you might as well take your time and just be late.
Example #9
彼に嫌われるくらいなら、いっそ最初から関わらない方がよかった。
Furigana: かれにきらわれるくらいなら、いっそさいしょからかかわらないほうがよかった。
Romaji: Kare ni kirawareru kurai nara, isso saisho kara kakawaranai hou ga yokatta.
English: If I’m going to be disliked by him, I’d rather not have gotten involved from the beginning.
Example #10
彼女に正直な意見を言うなら、いっそはっきりと伝えた方がいい。
Furigana: かのじょにしょうじきないけんをいうなら、いっそはっきりとつたえたほうがいい。
Romaji: Kanojo ni shoujiki na iken wo iu nara, isso hakkiri to tsutaeta hou ga ii.
English: If you’re going to tell her your honest opinion, you might as well tell her clearly.
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