Ippai meaning can vary depending on the expression, explained in detail

Japanese people quite often use the word, “ippai”, meaning ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’, ‘full’, ‘much’, ‘many’ or even ‘a defeat’ in Japanese. Its meaning can vary depending on what expression is used. In this blog post, therefore, I will explain its meanings based on its expressions. And also, I will explain how Japanese native speakers use it. Let’s get started!

Contents

• Ippai meaning ‘a cup’
• Example #1: how to use ippai meaning ‘a cup’
• Ippai meaning ‘a defeat’
• Example #2: how to use ippai meaning ‘one defeat’
• Ippai meaning ‘full’
• Example #3: how to use ippai meaning ‘to be filled up’
• Summary

Ippai meaning ‘a cup’

First of all, let me start with the noun meaning ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’ or some such. Below is it.

• ippai – 一杯 : a noun meaning ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’ or some such in Japanese.

Its definition and meanings are very simple and clear, but let me explain its kanji characters in detail. Below are the ones.

• 一 – a kanji character used as a numeral meaning ‘one’ in Japanese.
• 杯 – a kanji character meaning ‘cup’, ‘glass’ or some such.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “ippai – 一杯 (いっぱい)” literally means ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’ or some such. So, its meanings are completely in line with what its kanji characters express.

This is the first kanji expression of “ippai”. Then, please take a look at the example below.

Example #1: how to use ippai meaning ‘a cup’

Below are new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case maker or topic maker. In the example, it is put after the pronoun, “watashi”, to make the subject word in the sentence.
• ocha – お茶 (おちゃ) : a noun meaning ‘tea’ in Japanese. It sounds a bit polite due to the prefix, “o”.
• wo – を : a case particle put after a noun to make the object word. In the example, it is put after the noun, “ocha”, to make the object word in the sentence. It’s written as “wo”, but its actual pronunciation is “o”.
• nomi – 飲み (のみ) : one conjugation of the verb, “nomu”, which means ‘to drink’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for a better connection with its following word.
• tai – たい : an auxiliary verb put after a verb to make its desire form. In the example, it is put after the conjugated verb, “nomi”, to mean ‘to want to drink’ in Japanese. For Japanese learners, perhaps, it is well known for a part of Japanese tai form.

This is a typical usage of “ippai” meaning ‘a cup’. In many cases, it is translated as “a cup of”, “a glass of” or some such. Of course, it depends on context and other words used together, though.

Ippai meaning ‘a defeat’

Then, let me explain another kanji expression of “ippai”.

• ippai – 一敗 (いっぱい) : a noun meaning ‘a defeat’.

Its definition and meaning are also very simple and clear, but let me explain its second kanji character in detail as follows.

• 敗 : a kanji character meaning ‘defeat’.

So, we can understand that “ippai – 一敗 (いっぱい)” literally means ‘a defeat’ or more specifically ‘one defeat’. Its meanings are also completely in line with what its kanji characters express.

As you can see here, the meaning of “ippai” with this kanji expression is very specific. So, its usage is relatively limited.

This is the second kanji expression of “ippai”. Below is the example.

Example #2: how to use ippai meaning ‘one defeat’

Below is a new word used in the example sentence.

• desu – です : an auxiliary verb put after a noun or adjective to make it polite. In the example, it is put after the second “ippai” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “ippai” meaning ‘one defeat’. The example Japanese expression is quite often used after, say, a football match in Japan.

Ippai meaning ‘full’

Then, let me explain the hiragana expression of “ippai”.

• ippai – いっぱい : an adverb meaning ‘full’, ‘filled up’, ‘ a lot’, ‘much’, ‘many’ or some such in Japanese.

This usage originally started as an expression to call a cup full of something. In other words, it has the same origin as the first kanji expression above. As time goes by, its meanings have been changed. Today, it is used to mean a large number or great amount of things.

Honestly, the first kanji expression above can be used in the same way as this hiragana expression. In reality, however, Japanese native speakers prefer the hiragana in order to express a large number or great amount of things. This fact would be very helpful to avoid confusion.

Example #3: how to use ippai meaning ‘to be filled up’

Below are new words used in the example sentence.

• otearai – お手洗い (おてあらい) : a noun meaning ‘restroom’ in Japanese. Learn more about “otearai”.
• yopparai – 酔っ払い (よっぱらい) : a noun meaning ‘drunkard’ in Japanese. It can also be used as the plural noun. Learn more about “yopparai”.
• de – で : a case particle put after a noun to express a means or method to do something. Based on this concept, it can also be used to express a cause of things. In the example, it is put after the noun, “yopparai”, to express a means to fill the restroom, or perhaps I should say, how the restroom is filled up.

This is a typical usage of “ippai” meaning ‘to be filled up’. Honestly, the English sentence above sounds weird, but it reflects well the original nuance of the Japanese sentence.

Summary

In this blog, I’ve explained the “ippai” meanings based on its expressions. Its meaning can vary depending on what expression is used. Let me summarize them as follows.

• ippai – 一杯 : a noun meaning ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’ or some such in Japanese. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘a cup’, ‘a glass’ or such.
• ippai – 一敗 (いっぱい) : a noun meaning ‘a defeat’. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘a defeat’.
• ippai – いっぱい : an adverb meaning ‘full’, ‘filled up’, ‘ a lot’, ‘much’, ‘many’ or some such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.