ついに

つ

い

に

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

adverb

finally; at last; in the end

usually written using kana alone

Expresses that something long-awaited or long-expected has happened after a process or passage of time. Often carries a sense of culmination or resolution.

長ながい冬ふゆが終おわり、ついに春はるが来きた。

The long winter ended, and spring finally came.

彼かれはついに夢ゆめを実じつ現げんさせた。

He finally realized his dream.

2

adverb

in the end; after all; never (with negative)

usually written using kana alone

Used with a negative verb to mean that something did not happen in the end, or that a situation remained unchanged despite expectations. Often implies 'after all' or 'ultimately not'.

彼かれはついに来こなかった。
He never came (in the end).
その問もん題だいはついに解かい決けつしなかった。
The problem was never solved.

Usage patterns

ついに〈動どう詞し〉finally (do something long-awaited)
彼かれはついに夢ゆめを実じつ現げんした。
He finally realized his dream.
ついに〈動どう詞し〉なかったin the end, (something) never happened
彼かの女じょはついに戻もどってこなかった。
In the end, she never came back.

Kanji

遂consummate, accomplish, attain
終end, finish
竟end, finally

Related words· 7

等とう々とう sense 1
とうとう and ついに both mean 'finally,' but とうとう feels more colloquial and emotional while ついに is slightly more formal and common in writing.
やっとN4sense 1
やっと stresses relief after effort or a long wait for something barely achieved, while ついに is more neutral and can describe both good and bad outcomes.
結けっ局きょくN3sense 2
結局 means 'in the end' or 'after all' with a focus on the final outcome of a process, whereas ついに emphasizes the culmination of a long-awaited event.
いよいよN3
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.

Show 3 more

とうとうN4
ついに is close in meaning to 到頭 but tends to sound more formal or dramatic; the two are often interchangeable.
ようやくN3
ついに stresses the inevitability of a long-awaited outcome, whereas ようやく focuses on the relief of finally reaching it after effort or waiting.
やがてN3
ついに emphasizes a long-awaited or dramatic final outcome, while やがて is milder and just marks the result of time passing.

Don't confuse with

遂とげるN1
遂に shares the kanji 遂 with 遂げる but is an adverb meaning finally/at last, not a verb of accomplishment.

Written forms

ついにUsage86%
Standard modern spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
遂ついにUsage13%
Common kanji form, but kana is preferred in everyday writing.
終ついにUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
竟ついにUsage

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adverb つひに (tsuini), which originally meant 'finally' or 'in the end'. The modern form ついに is a regular sound change from the classical form.

<1%

rarely-used kanji form

Rarely used kanji form.