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やっとの思いで (やっとのおもいで) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

やっとの思おもいで

Meanings

1

expression, adverb

finally; after great effort; just barely

Expresses that something was achieved only after considerable difficulty or struggle. Often used when the outcome was barely reached.

やっとの思おもいで試し験けんに合ごう格かくした。
I finally passed the exam after great effort.
やっとの思おもいで締しめ切きりに間まに合あった。
I just barely made the deadline.

Kanji

思think

Similar words

ようやく
ようやく simply means 'finally' or 'at last', without the strong nuance of struggle or hardship that やっとの思いで carries.
かろうじて
かろうじて means 'barely' or 'just barely', focusing on the narrow margin, while やっとの思いで emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved.

Etymology

A set phrase combining やっと (finally, with difficulty) and 思い (thought, feeling) with the particle で, literally 'with the feeling of finally (managing)'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a common idiomatic expression.