immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

ついに・とうとう

at last, finally; in the end

ついに / とうとう + final result

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

ついに and とうとう mean "at last, finally", after a long time or a long process: 十年かかって、ついに夢がかなった, "after ten years, my dream finally came true".

Unlike やっと, which is only for good things you were waiting for, とうとう and ついに work for bad outcomes too: 待っていたけど、彼はとうとう来なかった, "I waited, but in the end he never came".

ついに is a little more dramatic and written; とうとう is more conversational.

Compare いよいよ, "at last (something is about to start)", which looks forward. ついに and とうとう mark the moment of arrival.

Examples

  • 十年じゅうねんかかって、ついに夢ゆめがかなった。

    After ten years, my dream finally came true.

  • 長ながい工事こうじがとうとう終おわった。

    The long construction work is finally over.

  • 待まっていたけど、彼かれはとうとう来こなかった。

    I waited, but in the end he never came.

  • ついに、明日あしたから夏休なつやすみだ。

    At last, the summer holidays start tomorrow.

  • 何度なんども失敗しっぱいしたが、ついに成功せいこうした。

    I failed many times, but I finally succeeded.

Related