Ichi go ichi e
pronounced ee chee go ee chee eh, IPA /’i:tfi gou ‘itsi ex/ is a Japanese phrase that translates to “one time, one meeting” or “for this time only.” It expresses the idea that each encounter or moment in life is unique and will never happen again in exactly the same way. Rooted in Zen Buddhism and the Japanese tea ceremony, it reminds people to treasure every experience and interaction as something precious and fleeting. It teaches mindfulness, gratitude and presence, encouraging us to give our full attention to the here and now because it will soon pass into memory.

Example sentence: As they shared tea under the cherry blossoms, he thought of the phrase ichi go ichi e, knowing that this gentle afternoon would never come again quite the same way.

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