The Meaning of ichidan to [一段と] In Japanese

一段と
いちだんと
Romaji: ichidan to N4

What does 一段と mean?

Translation and Meaning

to a greater extent, even more, much more

Definition

It means ‘to a greater extent’—an adverb that intensifies the degree of a following adjective or verb, signaling a noticeable increase in quality or state.

Type

adverb (副詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • indicates a greater degree or heightened intensity (ichidan to)
  • emphasizes a change in state or comparison, often before adjectives
  • occurs in both formal writing and everyday speech to add emphasis

Etymology

一 is one and 段 is a step or level; combined they form a unit meaning a single progression; the following と creates the adverbial sense of ‘to a greater extent’.

Composition

  • 一: one
  • 段: step, level
  • と: particle that links the noun phrase to a verbal/adjectival modifier, turning it into an adverbial meaning

Usage

Used as an adverb before adjectives or verbs to express heightened degree, in both formal and casual contexts; it typically modifies the following word to signal a stronger qualitative or quantitative sense.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture climbing one more rung on a staircase and you reach 一段と; the particle と acts like a hinge that boosts the degree, helping you remember that this expression marks a stronger sense.

Variations

  • より一層 (yori issou) — stronger emphasis
  • いっそう (issou) — more and more
  • ますます (masumasu) — increasingly, more and more

Example Phrases

  • 電車が遅れると、駅の人々は一段とイライラしていたね。
    Densha ga okureru to, eki no hitobito wa ichidan to iraira shite ita ne.
    When the train was late, the people at the station were even more irritated.
    Lista:
    • 電車 (densha) – train
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 遅れる (okureru) – to be late
    • と (to) – when/if
    • 駅 (eki) – station
    • の (no) – possessive marker
    • 人々 (hitobito) – people
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 一段と (ichidan to) – even more
    • イライラ (iraira) – irritated
    • していた (shite ita) – was
    • ね (ne) – right?
    「一段と」 means ‘even more’ and strengthens the following verb/adjective.
一段と