Japanese word

ずっと

Pronunciation

Romajizutto

Meaning

  • adverbfor a long time

Example

私はずっとここで待ちます。watashi wa zu tto ko ko de ma chi ma su

I will wait here for a long time.

Illustration for ずっと (for a long time)

More examples

子どものころから、ずっと日本語を勉強しています。ko do mo no ko ro ka ra zu tto nihon go o ben kyō shi te i ma su

I have been studying Japanese since I was a child.

Core concept

Shows that an action or state extends continuously from one point in time to another.

Common phrases

  • ずっと前からzu tto mae ka ra

    for a long time

  • ずっと一緒にいるzu tto is sho ni i ru

    be together all the time

  • ずっと待つzu tto ma tsu

    wait for a long time

  • ずっと続くzu tto tsuzu ku

    last for a long time

Similar words

しばらくshibaraku: It refers to an action or state that continues for some time without a fixed length.
いつまでもitsumademo: It describes an action or state that continues without a stated end.

Definition in Japanese

同じ状態や動作が途切れず、長い間続くさま。ona ji jō tai ya dō sa ga to gi re zu naga i aida tsuzu ku sa ma

Word origin

ずっと (zutto) is a native Japanese adverb linked to ずいと (zuito), which expressed straight or uninterrupted movement; the form came to express uninterrupted duration as well.

Usage tips

  • The time covered by ずっと (zutto) depends on the context, so it can describe a short period in one conversation and a period lasting years in another.

Other meanings

  • continuouslyadverb
  • all the wayadverb

Word lists with this word