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つまり・すなわち

in other words, that is, namely

A、つまり B · Sentence。つまり、Sentence。

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つまり restates what was just said in a clearer or shorter way: 彼は母の兄、つまり私のおじです, "he's my mother's older brother; in other words, my uncle".

It also draws a conclusion: 彼女は何も言わなかった。つまり、反対ではないのだろう, "she didn't say anything. In other words, she's probably not against it". It often pairs with ということだ or わけだ at the end.

As a question, つまり、どういうことですか asks someone to get to the point.

すなわち means the same, but is formal and written, typical of definitions and textbooks. Compare だから, which gives a result; つまり gives the same thing in different words.

Examples

  • 彼かれは母ははの兄あに、つまり私わたしのおじです。

    He's my mother's older brother; in other words, my uncle.

  • 来週らいしゅうは休やすみ、つまり授業じゅぎょうがないということだ。

    Next week is a holiday, which means there are no classes.

  • つまり、どういうことですか。

    So what exactly are you saying?

  • 彼女かのじょは何なにも言いわなかった。つまり、反対はんたいではないのだろう。

    She didn't say anything. In other words, she's probably not against it.

  • 日本にほんの首都しゅと、すなわち東京とうきょう。

    The capital of Japan, namely Tokyo.

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