Translation guide
A guide to expressing the English word "just" in Japanese, organized by meaning and use. Covers recent past, exactness, only/simply, barely, emphasis, and more.
Expressing that something happened a very short time ago.
Literally 'just now'. Used for very immediate past actions. Common in spoken Japanese.
たった今、家に着きました。
I just got home.
たった今、メールを送りました。
I just sent the email.
Attached to the past tense plain form of a verb. Means 'just did something'. Emphasizes that the action was completed recently.
食べたばかりです。
I just ate.
日本に来たばかりで、まだ慣れていません。
I just came to Japan and am not used to it yet.
A slightly more formal or literary way to say 'just now'. Often used in polite contexts.
今しがた、社長がお戻りになりました。
The company president just returned a moment ago.
Indicating that something is exactly a certain way, amount, or time.
The most common and versatile word for 'exactly' or 'just right'. Works for time, quantity, size, etc.
ちょうど12時です。
It's just 12 o'clock.
この靴はちょうどいいサイズです。
These shoes are just the right size.
Emphasizes that something is exactly as described, often with a nuance of 'indeed' or 'precisely'. Used for identity or timing.
Often used for things fitting perfectly, like clothes or a schedule. Can also mean 'exactly right' for amounts.
Limiting something to a small amount, degree, or reason; 'nothing more than'.
Means 'only', 'just', 'merely'. Often used before nouns or clauses. Can sound plain or factual.
ただの風邪です。
It's just a cold.
ただ聞いてみただけです。
I was just asking.
A particle meaning 'only' or 'just'. Attaches to nouns, verbs, etc. Very common and neutral.
少しだけください。
Just a little, please.
More formal or written, meaning 'simply' or 'merely'. Often used with だけ or に過ぎない.
Formal expression meaning 'no more than', 'merely'. Used after nouns or clauses.
これは一つの例に過ぎません。
This is just one example.
Indicating that something almost didn't happen or was very close to a limit.
Means 'barely', 'just in time', or 'by a narrow margin'. Often used with time or limits.
電車にぎりぎり間に合った。
I just barely caught the train.
締め切りぎりぎりに提出した。
I submitted it just before the deadline.
A slightly formal way to say 'barely' or 'just managed to'. Often used with potential form verbs.
Means 'at last' or 'finally', but can imply 'just barely' when combined with a sense of difficulty. Focuses on the effort and relief.
やっと終わった。
It's just finished. / Finally done.
Used for emphasis, often in exclamations or to stress a quality.
Means 'really' or 'truly'. Can translate 'just' in emphatic statements like 'It's just wonderful'.
本当に素晴らしい！
It's just wonderful!
Means 'completely' or 'absolutely'. Used for strong emphasis, often in negative or surprised contexts.
Means 'anyway' or 'just' in the sense of 'just do it' or 'just because'. Implies ignoring details.
Expressing that an action is on the verge of happening.
Attached to the dictionary form of a verb. Means 'just about to do something'.
今、出かけるところです。
I'm just about to go out.
ちょうど電話しようとしていたところです。
I was just about to call you.
Used with the masu-stem of a verb to indicate 'almost did something' or 'was just about to (but didn't)'.
転びそうになった。
I just about fell.
Indicating that a reason is simple or insufficient; often dismissive.
Uses ただ (only) with から (because). Means 'just because...'.
ただ安いからといって、買う必要はない。
Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you need to buy it.
Means 'just because' or 'simply on the grounds that'. Often used in negative contexts.
彼が若いというだけで、経験不足とは言えない。
Just because he's young doesn't mean he lacks experience.
Indicating two events happening simultaneously.
Used after past tense verb. Means 'just as' or 'the moment something happened, something else occurred'.
家を出たとたんに、雨が降り出した。
Just as I left the house, it started raining.
Means 'just when I thought...'. Expresses that something happened right after another event, often unexpectedly.
やっと晴れたかと思うと、また曇ってきた。
Just when I thought it had finally cleared up, it got cloudy again.
English 'just' has many functions that do not map to a single Japanese word. Always consider the intended meaning (recent past, only, exactly, etc.) before choosing an expression. Using ただ or だけ in every case will often sound unnatural.
Both mean 'just did something', but たった今 emphasizes the immediacy (a few seconds/minutes ago), while 〜たばかり focuses on the fact that the action was recently completed and its effects are still relevant. たった今 is more like 'just now', 〜たばかり is more like 'have just done'.
When limiting an amount, だけ is the most natural choice. For example, 'just one' is 一つだけ, 'just a little' is 少しだけ. It can also follow verbs: 見るだけ (just looking).
たった今、着きました。
I just arrived.
ただの風邪です。
It's just a cold.
I was just thinking about that.
これがまさに私が探していた本です。
This is just the book I was looking for.
この服は私にぴったりです。
These clothes fit me just right.
予算ぴったりで旅行できた。
We were able to travel just within our budget.
私はただ見ているだけです。
I'm just looking.
That's just a misunderstanding.
かろうじて試験に合格した。
I just barely passed the exam.
I just can't believe it.
とにかくやってみよう。
Let's just try it.