Japanese word

事実上

Pronunciation

Romajijijitsujō

Meaning

  • adverbeffectively

Example

その店は事実上閉店しています。so no mise wa ji jitsu jō hei ten shi te i ma su

The store is effectively closed.

Illustration for 事実上 (effectively)

More examples

その規則は事実上廃止されています。so no ki soku wa ji jitsu jō hai shi sa re te i ma su

That rule has effectively been abolished.

Core concept

It marks a condition as true in practical reality, even when its formal status or exact description differs.

Common phrases

  • 事実上不可能ji jitsu jō fu ka nō

    effectively impossible

  • 事実上存在しないji jitsu jō son zai shi na i

    effectively nonexistent

Similar words

実質上jisshitsujō: Refers to the practical substance or result of a matter, regardless of its formal label.
実際上jissaijō: Refers to a situation as it operates in practical terms.
実際にjissaini: Confirms that something is true or has happened in fact.

Definition in Japanese

形式上は異なる場合でも、実際にはそうなっているとみなせるさま。kei shiki jō wa koto na ru ba ai de mo jis sai ni wa sō na tte i ru to mi na se ru sa ma

Word origin

事実上 (jijitsujō) combines 事実 (jijitsu, "fact") with 上 (jō, "in terms of"), forming an adverb meaning "in terms of facts" or "in practice".

Usage tips

  • Unlike actually, which often corrects a belief about what is true, effectively often highlights the practical result, as in a business that is not formally closed but no longer operates.

Other meanings

  • actuallyadverb

Word lists with this word