Japanese word

従来

Pronunciation

Romajijūrai

Meaning

  • adverbso far

Example

従来はこの方法を使ってきました。jū rai wa ko no hō hō o tsuka tte ki ma shi ta

So far, we have used this method.

Illustration for 従来 (so far)

More examples

紙の書類は、従来は手で整理していました。kami no sho rui wa jū rai wa te de sei ri shi te i ma shi ta

Previously, we organized paper documents by hand.

Core concept

Describes something that has continued or remained true from an earlier time until now.

Common phrases

  • 従来はjū rai wa

    so far

  • 従来どおりjū rai dō ri

    as before

Similar words

これまでkoremade: Refers to a period or state extending from an earlier time to the present.
今までimamade: Refers to a period or state that has lasted up to the present in everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

今までの間、現在に至るまで。ima ma de no aida gen zai ni ita ru ma de

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 従来 (jūrai) reflects the compound 従 (jū, "following/from") + 来 (rai, "coming"), which refers to something carried forward from earlier times.

Usage tips

  • For everyday speech about what has happened so far, これまで (koremade) is usually more conversational than 従来 (jūrai), which has a formal tone.

Other meanings

  • previouslyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word