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いよいよ (iyoiyo) Japanese meaning: more and more | Kotomora

いよいよ

い

よ

い

よ

Common word›JLPTN3›Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

more and more; increasingly; all the more

usually written using kana alone

Expresses a gradual increase in degree or intensity, often with a sense of anticipation or inevitability.

台たい風

ふう

が

いよいよ

近ちか

づい

て

き

た

。

The typhoon is getting closer and closer.

試し合あいはいよいよ面おも白しろくなってきた。

The game has become increasingly exciting.

2

at last; finally; beyond doubt

usually written using kana alone

Marks the long-awaited arrival of a moment or the final confirmation of something, often with emotional weight.

いよいよ明日あした、日本にほんへ出しゅっ発ぱつします。
At last, I leave for Japan tomorrow.
いよいよ本ほん番ばんだ。
The real thing is finally here.

3

at the last moment; at the worst possible time

usually written using kana alone

Used when something critical happens right at the end or when a situation is most urgent; often appears in set phrases like いよいよという時.

いよいよという時ときに限かぎって、携けい帯たいの電でん池ちが切きれた。
Right at the crucial moment, my phone battery died.
いよいよの時ときは、この番ばん号ごうに電でん話わしてください。
If it comes to the worst, please call this number.

Usage patterns

いよいよ〈形けい容よう詞し〉なるto become increasingly ~ (as a climax approaches)
台たい風ふうが近ちかづき、風かぜはいよいよ強つよくなってきた。
As the typhoon approached, the wind grew increasingly strong.
いよいよ〈事こと〉が始はじまるthe long-awaited ~ finally begins
長ながい準じゅん備びを終おえて、いよいよ試し合あいが始はじまる。
After long preparation, the match is finally about to begin.
いよいよという時ときat the critical moment; when it really comes down to it
いよいよという時ときに限かぎって、パソコンが動うごかなくなった。
Just at the critical moment, my computer stopped working.

Kanji

愈be superior, heal, more and more
弥all the more, increasingly

Related words

ますますN3sense 1
ますます describes a steady, neutral increase, while いよいよ often adds a sense of climax or inevitability to the increase.
ついにN3sense 2
ついに focuses on the end of a long process, whereas いよいよ highlights the arrival of a moment that has been anxiously anticipated.
等とう々とう sense 2
とうとう is a plain way to say something finally happened, while いよいよ carries more emotional weight and a sense of climax.
弥いや
弥 is an archaic literary adverb meaning 'more and more', while いよいよ is the modern standard word used for the same meaning today.
うたた
いよいよ often marks a climax or long-awaited moment, whereas 転 simply expresses a gradual, literary intensification without that sense of arrival.

Written forms

いよいよUsage98%
The standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
愈いよ々いよUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
愈いよいよUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
弥いよ々いよ

Etymology

Derived from reduplication of いよ, an old adverb meaning 'more and more'. The exact origin of いよ is uncertain.

Usage<1%

rarely-used kanji form

Rarely used kanji form.