Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 1: 11/21

一応(いちおう) ②
more or less, for the time being, tentatively・roughly

Structure
一応 + Phrase
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When used as a 副詞(ふくし), 一応(いちおう) can often carry the nuance of (A) not being perfect or ideal, but the minimum required in order to satisfy some requirement. This ‘requirement’ is frequently related to the time or amount of something. When used this way, 一応(いちおう) may be interpreted as ‘more or less, (A)’, ‘for the time being, (A)’, or ‘tentatively (A)’.
  • 一応(いちおう)私(わたし)が店長(てんちょう)ですが、どうかなされましたか。
    I am more or less the manager. Did something happen?
  • 今日(きょう)は一応(いちおう)ここまでにしておきましょう。
    For the time being, let’s call it a day for today.
  • 周(まわ)りの人(ひと)たちが立(た)ち始(はじ)めたので、僕(ぼく)も一応(いちおう)立(た)った。
    People around me started to stand up, so tentatively, I also stood up.
This use of 一応(いちおう) is in contrast to the other common use of 一応(いちおう), which can be translated as ‘just in case’, or ‘just to be sure’. In these cases, the speaker is usually indicating that (A) is being done in order to avoid or prevent (B). However, in both of its uses, it simply indicates that (A) is the minimum amount which is fulfilling some requirement.
  • 今夜(こんや)は寒(さむ)くなるかも知(し)れないから、一応(いちおう)ジャケットかなんか持(も)ってきな。
    Why don’t you take a jacket or something, just in case, since it might get cold tonight.
  • 一応(いちおう)言(い)っておくけど私(わたし)は踊(おど)るのが下手(へた)だからね。
    Just to be sure, I want to let you know that I am not a good dancer.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
転(ころ)んだ友達(ともだち)1に話(はな)しかける友達(ともだち):「大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)?」
友達(ともだち):「一応(いちおう)。」
Friend2 talks to Friend1 who has fallen: "Are you ok?"
Friend1: "More or less."
Play  
就職(しゅうしょく)の面接(めんせつ)、面接官(めんせつかん):「英語(えいご)ができますか?田中(たなか)さん。」
田中(たなか)さん:「私(わたし)は日常的(にちじょうてき)な英会話(えいかいわ)ぐらいなら一応(いちおう)できますが、ビジネスで英語(えいご)使(つか)うのは自信(じしん)がありません。」
Job interview, the interviewer: "Can you speak English, Mr. Tanaka?"
Mr. Tanaka: "I am more or less able to do day-to-day conversations, but I don't feel confident in using English in business."
Play  
警察官(けいさつかん):「こんにちは警察(けいさつ)から来(き)ました。オーナーと話(はなし)をしたいです。」
エリアスさん:「一応(いちおう)私(わたし)がオーナーのエリアスです。」
Policeman: "Hello, I have come from the police station. I would like to speak with the owner."
Elias: "I am Elias, more or less the owner."
[Some Japanese use 一応 to weaken phrases that might sound a bit conceited, for example when introducing themselves or speaking about ones skills, job, graduated university, etc.]
Play  
Online
Books
Tobira
Page 330