つい
🃏 Flashcard
つい
tsui
Tap to reveal usage
accidentally; unintentionally
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
tsui
Post ID
50966
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
accidentally; unintentionally
📖 How to use it
Describes doing something unintentionally or against one's will, often due to temptation or habit.
Attaches to
Attaches directly to a verb phrase; it precedes the verb it modifies, and the verb can be in any form (dictionary, past, te-form, etc.). It is an adverb, so no specific verb form is required.
つい is an adverb that expresses that an action happened accidentally or unintentionally, often because you couldn't resist or because it was a habit. It usually carries a nuance of regret or self-awareness. For example, if you eat too much chocolate even though you're on a diet, you might say つい食べすぎた (I accidentally ate too much). It can also be used when you do something without thinking, like laughing at a joke you shouldn't have.
つい寝坊してしまった。
Tsui nebō shite shimatta.
I accidentally overslept.
ダイエット中なのに、ついケーキを食べた。
Daietto-chū na noni, tsui kēki o tabeta.
Even though I'm on a diet, I ended up eating cake.
つい本当のことを言ってしまった。
Tsui hontō no koto o itte shimatta.
I accidentally said the truth.
Not うっかり
うっかり also means 'carelessly' or 'absent-mindedly', but it often implies a lack of attention, while つい implies a momentary lapse due to temptation or habit. Also, うっかり is used with verbs like 忘れる (forget) or 間違える (make a mistake), but つい can be used with any action you didn't intend.
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つい is common in both spoken and written Japanese, but it's more frequent in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
つい
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat つい 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 つい. 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 N3 Patterns
← Previous
とは限らない
not necessarily so; is not always true
Next →
ついに
finally ~; at last ~; in the end
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern つい mean?
▼
Accidentally; unintentionally
What JLPT level is つい?
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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 in a sentence?
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Attach つい (tsui) 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 formal or casual Japanese?
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つい 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 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.