万が一

まんがいち

Also written まんがいつ

Meanings

1. Adverb (if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that (literally: 10000 to 1) See also: 万一 (まんいち).
2. Noun (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario) See also: 万一 (まんいち).

Kanji

• 万 ten thousand. Read as マン.
• 一 one. Read as イチ.

Example sentences

• もし万が一彼女が日本に来るとすれば、ジェーンはとても喜ぶだろう。
  If she should come to Japan, Jane would be very happy.
• もし万が一私が失敗したら両親は何と言うだろう。
  If I should fail, what would my parents say?
• うちのチームが君のところのチームに負けるようなことが、万が一にもあれば、僕は首をやる。
  I'll eat my hat if, by some chance, my team loses to yours.
• 万が一に備えて、武器になるものを探した。
  I looked around for a weapon just in case.
• 万が一の時のために、保険には入っておいたほうがいいよ。
  Insurance is a good idea - just in case.

Common phrases

• 万が一に備える

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists