いつも
🃏 Flashcard
いつも
itsumo
Tap to reveal usage
always; usually; habitually
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
itsumo
Post ID
50620
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
always; usually; habitually
📖 How to use it
Expresses habitual or usual action, meaning 'always' or 'usually'.
Attaches to
Used as a standalone adverb, placed before the verb or adjective it modifies. No conjugation needed.
This is a simple adverb that indicates something happens regularly or all the time. It can be used with positive or negative verbs, and with present or past tense. It often appears with ます-form for polite speech, but can be used in casual speech as well.
いつも電車で学校へ行きます。
Itsumo densha de gakkou e ikimasu.
I always go to school by train.
彼はいつも遅刻します。
Kare wa itsumo chikoku shimasu.
He is always late.
母はいつも料理をします。
Haha wa itsumo ryouri o shimasu.
My mother always cooks.
Not よく (yoku)
よく means 'often' or 'frequently', implying something happens many times but not all the time. いつも means 'always', implying no exception.
Register
Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, polite or casual depending on verb form.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
いつも
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat いつも three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using いつも. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern いつも mean?
▼
Always; usually; habitually
What JLPT level is いつも?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use いつも in a sentence?
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Attach いつも (itsumo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is いつも formal or casual Japanese?
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いつも is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember いつも long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.