Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

いずれ Japanese meaning | Kotomora

いずれ

also: いづれ

い

ず

れ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

pronoun

which; where; who

usually written using kana alone

Interrogative pronoun used to ask about a choice among options. Often used in formal or written contexts; in casual speech, どれ or どちら is more common.

いずれの方ほう法ほうが最さい適てきでしょうか。
Which method would be the most suitable?

いずれの国くにから来きましたか。

Which country are you from?

2

pronoun

usually written using kana alone

Used in the patterns いずれも or いずれの...も to mean 'all' or 'both' of the options. Slightly formal.

いずれの案あんも一いっ長ちょう一いっ短たんがある。
Both proposals have their pros and cons.
応おう募ぼ者しゃはいずれも優ゆう秀しゅうだった。
All the applicants were excellent.

3

adverb

anyway; in any case; at any rate

usually written using kana alone

Adverbial use meaning 'in any case' or 'anyway'. Often used to shift the topic or to emphasize that something is true regardless of circumstances.

いずれにしても、今日きょう中じゅうに決きめなければならない。
In any case, we have to decide by the end of today.
いずれまたお会あいしましょう。
Anyway, let's meet again sometime.

4

adverb

sooner or later; eventually; someday

usually written using kana alone

Adverbial use meaning 'sooner or later' or 'eventually'. Implies that something will happen in the future, though the exact time is uncertain.

いずれ雨あめはやむだろう。
The rain will stop sooner or later.
いずれ真しん実じつが明あきらかになる。
The truth will come out eventually.

Written forms

いずれUsage99%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 何れ and 孰れ are rare.
いづれUsage1%
irregular kana usage
Historical kana spelling; included for search compatibility.
何れUsage<1%
- いずれ
  Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
- いづれ
  irregular kana usage
孰れUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
- いずれ
  Very rare kanji form; not recommended for active use.
- いづれ
  irregular kana usage

Kanji

何what
孰which, how, who

Similar words

どれ
どれ is the casual interrogative 'which' for three or more items, while いずれ is more formal and can also be used adverbially.
どちら
どちら is the polite interrogative 'which' for two items, whereas いずれ is formal and not limited to two options.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese いづれ, a combination of the interrogative prefix いづ- and the nominalizer れ. The modern form いずれ reflects a regular sound change from づ to ず.