一体

About

いったい is an adverb that is often used in exclamatory phrases, and roughly translates to "What the heck?" or "What on earth?". For its exclamatory usage, いったい must always be paired with a question word.

E.g. 私わたしは今いまいったいどこにいるんだろう？ "Where exactly am I right now?"

一体いったい can be used as an adverb meaning "generally" or "as one" if followed by the に particle. For this usage, いったい is usually written in its kanji form.

E.g. 生徒せいとたちは一体いったいで動うごいた。 "The students moved as one."

Summary

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  いったい is an adverb that means "What the heck?" or "What on earth?"

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  For its exclamatory usage, いったい must always be paired with a question word

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  一体いったいに means "generally" or "as one"