Meaning and Usage
"一斉" (いっせい) means "simultaneous" or "all at once." It is used to describe actions or events happening together at the same time by multiple people or things.
Common Contexts
You often see "一斉に" followed by verbs like "始める" (to start), "動く" (to move), or "叫ぶ" (to shout), emphasizing that everyone or everything acts simultaneously.
Collocations and Patterns
- 一斉に + verb (e.g., 一斉に走る): to do something all at once
- 一斉に動く: to move simultaneously
- 一斉に質問する: to ask questions all at once
Register and Nuance
"一斉" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It often appears in news reports, instructions, or descriptions of group actions.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "一斉" with "同時" (どうじ), which also means "simultaneous." The difference is that "一斉" emphasizes a coordinated or collective action happening all at once, while "同時" simply means at the same time without implying coordination.