一寸先

Reading

Kana: いっすんさき

Romaji: issunsaki

Definition

noun

1

an inch ahead; the immediate future

Kanji

一

Readings: イチ、 イツ、 ひと-、 ひと.つ

Meanings: one, one radical (no.1)

寸

Reading: スン

Meanings: measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small

先

Readings: セン、 さき、 ま.ず

Meanings: before, ahead, previous, future, precedence

Example Sentences

一寸先(いっすんさき)は闇(やみ)。

➥Who can read the future?

彼(かれ)あんなに元気(げんき)だったのに。突然(とつぜん)亡(な)くなるなんて。一寸先(いっすんさき)は闇(やみ)だね。

➥He was so healthy up to the minute of his sudden death. You really never know what might happen next.

霧(きり)がとても濃(こ)かったので、一寸先(いっすんさき)も見(み)えなかった。

➥The mist was so dense that I could not see even an inch ahead.