Ichigo Ichie
/it͡ɕiɡo it͡ɕi.e/noun
A Japanese expression meaning that each encounter happens only once and should therefore be treasured.
Did you know?The expression became closely associated with Japanese tea ceremony, where hosts and guests were urged to treat each gathering as a singular, unrepeatable event.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
一期一会
“A single period or occasion, and one meeting”
16th Century
Japanese
一期一会
“A tea-ceremony ideal: regard each gathering as a unique meeting that will never recur”
16th Century
Japanese
ichigo ichie
“The Japanese reading of the Sino-Japanese characters 一期一会”
19th Century
Japanese
一期一会
“Popularized in tea writing and associated especially with Ii Naosuke’s interpretation of tea practice”
20th Century
English
ichigo ichie
“A Japanese phrase adopted in English-language writing to express the preciousness of one-time encounters”
Modern English
English
ichigo ichie
“A principle of cherishing each moment and meeting as unique and unrepeatable”