finally ~; at last ~; in the end (ついに) – Japanese Grammar ついに (tsui ni)

Q: What JLPT level is ついに?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use ついに in a sentence?

Attach ついに to the appropriate verb or noun form. Finally ~; at last ~; in the end

Q: Is ついに formal or casual Japanese?

ついに can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

ついに

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

tsui ni

finally ~; at last ~; in the end

数量 + は suuryou + wa なんか / なんて nanka / nante 最中に saichuu ni むしろ mushiro しかない shikanai 確かに tashika ni がたい gatai てはじめて te hajimete 一体 ittai をはじめ o hajime もしも〜たら moshimo~tara に慣れる ni nareru まるで maru de わざわざ wazawaza せいで sei de に関する ni kan suru にかけて ni kakete というより to iu yori ように見える you ni mieru とすれば to sureba 数量 + は suuryou + wa なんか / なんて nanka / nante 最中に saichuu ni むしろ mushiro しかない shikanai 確かに tashika ni がたい gatai てはじめて te hajimete 一体 ittai をはじめ o hajime もしも〜たら moshimo~tara に慣れる ni nareru まるで maru de わざわざ wazawaza せいで sei de に関する ni kan suru にかけて ni kakete というより to iu yori ように見える you ni mieru とすれば to sureba

🃏 Flashcard

ついに

tsui ni

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finally ~; at last ~; in the end

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading tsui ni

Post ID 50967

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

finally ~; at last ~; in the end

📖 How to use it

ついに marks that something has happened after a long wait or effort, often with a sense of relief or significance.

Attaches to ついに is an adverb and does not attach to a specific verb form; it modifies the entire clause and is typically placed before the verb or predicate it emphasizes.

ついに means 'finally' or 'at last', and it is used when something that was expected, awaited, or worked toward for a long time actually happens. It often carries emotional weight, such as relief, excitement, or a sense of an ending. For example, after years of saving, you might say you finally bought a house. It is commonly used with the past tense to talk about completed events, but it can also be used with the present tense to show that something has just now occurred, or with negative forms to mean 'never' (as in 'in the end, it didn't happen'). However, the negative use is more advanced; at N3, focus on the positive sense of 'finally'.

ついに is an adverb, so it does not conjugate. You place it in the sentence, usually right before the verb or predicate it emphasizes, but it can also appear at the beginning or after the topic for emphasis. It is neutral in formality and appears in both speaking and writing, though in casual conversation it is very common. It is not particularly formal or literary.

ついに試験に合格しました。

Tsui ni shiken ni goukaku shimashita.

I finally passed the exam.

長い時間待って、ついにバスが来た。

Nagai jikan matte, tsui ni basu ga kita.

After waiting for a long time, the bus finally came.

ついに日本に着いた。

Tsui ni Nihon ni tsuita.

I finally arrived in Japan.

Not やっとやっと also means 'finally' but is more casual and often implies effort or difficulty. ついに is more objective and can also mean 'in the end' with a sense of finality, while やっと is more about relief. For example, やっと終わった (finally finished, with relief) vs. ついに終わった (finally finished, marking a significant end).

Register Neutral; used in both speech and writing, but in casual conversation やっと is more common, while ついに can sound a bit more formal or dramatic.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ついに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat ついに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using ついに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

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つい

accidentally; unintentionally

ついでに

while, incidentally, at the same time

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ついに mean? ▼

Finally ~; at last ~; in the end

What JLPT level is ついに? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use ついに in a sentence? ▼

Attach ついに (tsui ni) 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 ついに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

ついに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember ついに long-term? ▼

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.