Japanese Conversation · Level 17
90 words
Japanese word
いよいよ
Pronunciation
Romajiiyoiyo
Meaning
- adverbfinally
Example
いよいよ夏休みが始まります。i yo i yo natsu yasu mi ga haji ma ri ma su
Summer vacation is finally starting.
More examples
発表の日がいよいよ近づいてきました。hap pyō no hi ga i yo i yo chika zu i te ki ma shi ta
The day of the announcement is finally getting closer.
Core concept
Shows that a situation is moving toward an expected point or becoming more pronounced over time.
Common phrases
いよいよ始まるi yo i yo haji ma ru
finally begin
いよいよ出番i yo i yo de ban
one's turn at last
いよいよ本番i yo i yo hon ban
the real thing at last
Similar words
ついにtsuini: Shows that an expected event has finally happened after a long wait or process.
とうとうtōtō: Shows that an event has reached its final result after a long process, often highlighting the result.
ますますmasumasu: Shows that a quality or condition is increasing in degree.
そろそろsorosoro: Indicates that an expected time or event is approaching soon.
Definition in Japanese
時間をかけて進んだ事柄がとうとう実現するさま。また、状態や程度がますます進むさま。ji kan o ka ke te susu n da koto gara ga tō tō jitsu gen su ru sa ma ma ta jō tai ya tei do ga ma su ma su susu mu sa ma
Word origin
The native Japanese adverb いよいよ (iyoiyo) uses reduplication to strengthen the native form いよい (iyoi) and its sense of "ever more."
Usage tips
- Unlike English finally, いよいよ (iyoiyo) can also describe a gradual change that is becoming increasingly noticeable.
Other meanings
- increasinglyadverb