Japanese word

ようやく

Pronunciation

Romajiyōyaku

Meaning

  • adverbfinally

Example

試験がようやく終わりました。shi ken ga yō ya ku o wa ri ma shi ta

The test finally ended.

Illustration for ようやく (finally)

More examples

冬が終わり、ようやく暖かくなりました。fuyu ga o wa ri yō ya ku atata ka ku na ri ma shi ta

Winter ended, and it finally became warm.

Core concept

Marks a long-awaited result that arrives after delay, effort, or difficulty.

Common phrases

  • ようやく着くyō ya ku tsu ku

    finally arrive

  • ようやくできるyō ya ku de ki ru

    finally be able to do

Similar words

ついにtsuini: It marks an event that occurs after a long process or period of waiting.
やっとyatto: It marks a result reached only after much waiting or effort.
とうとうtōtō: It marks the final result of a long process and can suggest an unwanted outcome.

Definition in Japanese

長い時間や多くの努力を経て、待ち望んでいた事柄が実現するさま。naga i ji kan ya ō ku no do ryoku o he te ma chi nozo n de i ta koto gara ga jitsu gen su ru sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese adverb ようやく (yōyaku) comes from the older form やうやう (yauyau, "gradually"), with its meaning developing toward an outcome reached at last.

Usage tips

  • In English, "finally" can introduce a concluding point, but ようやく (yōyaku) expresses an outcome that has been reached after waiting or difficulty.

Opposites

Word lists with this word