JLPT · Level 53
45 words
Japanese word
遅くとも
Pronunciation
Romajiosokutomo
Meaning
- adverbat the latest
Example
遅くとも金曜日までに提出してください。oso ku to mo kin yō hi ma de ni tei shutsu shi te ku da sa i
Please submit it by Friday at the latest.
More examples
結果は遅くとも一週間後にお知らせします。kek ka wa oso ku to mo ichi shū kan go ni o shi ra se shi ma su
We will let you know the result in a week at the latest.
Core concept
Places an event or action at the last possible point allowed by a deadline.
Common phrases
遅くとも明日までにoso ku to mo asu ma de ni
by tomorrow at the latest
遅くとも今月中にoso ku to mo kon getsu chū ni
by the end of this month at the latest
遅くとも来月までにoso ku to mo rai getsu ma de ni
by next month at the latest
Definition in Japanese
どんなに遅くても、示された期限までに。do n na ni oso ku te mo shime sa re ta ki gen ma de ni
Word origin
遅くとも (osokutomo) is formed from 遅い (osoi, "late") in its adverbial form 遅く (osoku) and とも (tomo, "even if"), meaning "even if it is late."
Usage tips
- When a Japanese notice uses 遅くとも (osokutomo), the following deadline is the latest acceptable time, not merely an approximate goal.
Opposites
- 早くともhayakutomoat the earliestadverb