Japanese word

ちょうど

Pronunciation

Romajichōdo

Meaning

  • adverbjust

Example

今、ちょうど帰ります。ima chō do kae ri ma su

I am just going home now.

Illustration for ちょうど (just)

More examples

ちょうど今、宿題を始めます。chō do ima shuku dai o haji me ma su

I am just starting my homework now.

この箱はちょうど本を三冊入れる大きさです。ko no bako wa chō do hon o san satsu i re ru ō ki sa de su

This box is exactly the right size for three books.

Core concept

Shows that a time, amount, place, or condition matches a reference point exactly, often corresponding to just, exactly, or right.

Common phrases

  • ちょうどいいchō do i i

    just right

  • ちょうど今chō do ima

    just now

  • ちょうど三時chō do san ji

    exactly three o'clock

Similar words

ぴったりpittari: Shows that a time, amount, size, or condition matches exactly.
まさにmasani: Shows that something is exactly as stated or happens at the very time mentioned.

Definition in Japanese

基準となる時刻・数量・状態などにぴったり合うさま。ki jun to na ru ji koku sū ryō jō tai na do ni pi tta ri a u sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese adverb ちょうど (chōdo) is commonly written 丁度 (chōdo), combining 丁 (chō, "exact") and 度 (do, "degree").

Usage tips

  • Unlike English just, ちょうど (chōdo) often signals an exact match in time or degree, so it can describe something happening at the precise moment referred to.

Other meanings

  • exactlyadverb
  • rightadverb

Word lists with this word