Meaning and Usage
The adverb 一旦 (いったん) means "once," "for a moment," or "temporarily." It is often used to indicate a temporary action or state before something else happens. It implies a pause or a provisional step.
Common Contexts
一旦 is frequently used when you want to suggest doing something temporarily or putting something on hold. For example, you might say 一旦帰る (go home once) or 一旦保留 (put on hold temporarily).
Collocations and Patterns
- 一旦 + verb (e.g., 一旦帰る): to do something once or temporarily
- 一旦 + noun + は + verb (e.g., 一旦この件は保留にする): to temporarily treat or handle something
- 一旦休憩する: to take a break for a moment
Register and Nuance
This word is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese. It is polite enough for formal situations but also natural in casual conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 一旦 with いちど (一度), which also means "once." However, 一旦 emphasizes a temporary or provisional action, while 一度 simply means "one time" without the nuance of temporary status.