つい

つ

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 500

Meanings

Indicates that something happened a very short time ago, often with a nuance of immediacy or 'just this moment'.

quite near; close by

Used for spatial or temporal proximity, often in the pattern ついそこ/そば/近く etc.

Expresses doing something impulsively or against one's better judgment, often with a sense of regret or helplessness.

つい先さきほどjust a moment ago
つい先さきほど、彼かれから電でん話わがありました。
I got a call from him just a moment ago.
つい〈場ば所しょ〉right there/nearby (emphasizing closeness)
駅えきはついそこにありますよ。
The station is just right there.
つい〈動どう詞し〉てしまうto end up doing ~ unintentionally
ダイエット中ちゅうなのに、つい食たべてしまった。
I'm on a diet, but I ended up eating anyway.

うっかりN3sense 3
うっかり describes careless mistakes or forgetfulness, while つい implies a weak-willed or impulsive action done despite knowing better.
思おもわずN3sense 3
思わず describes a spontaneous, often emotional reaction, while つい can also cover habitual or weak-willed actions done against one's better judgment.
さっきN4sense 1
さっき is a casual noun/adverb meaning 'a little while ago', while つい stresses how recent or sudden the timing feels, as in つい先ほど.
ついつい
つい is a more general word for doing something unintentionally or just a moment ago, while ついつい stresses a repeated, habitual slip despite knowing better.
何なに気げなくN1
つい implies acting on impulse or habit despite knowing better, whereas 何気なく simply means doing something without much thought, with no sense of inner conflict.

わざとN3sense 3
わざと means doing something on purpose, the direct opposite of つい's sense of acting unintentionally.

対ついN2
対 (つい) is an unrelated noun meaning 'a pair/couple', while the adverb つい means 'just now' or 'unintentionally'.

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese adverb with no clear kanji etymology.