ついに

つ

い

に

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

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.

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.

See all 814 example sentences ›

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<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

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.