Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering 「とっくに」: The Nuance of “Long Ago” and “Already Done”

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

「とっくに」 is an adverb that means “long ago,” “already (a long time ago),” or “by far.” It emphasizes that an action or state occurred considerably earlier than the present moment or earlier than implied by the situation or the listener’s assumption.

🎯 Primary Function

Its primary function is to stress the completion of an action or the existence of a state well before an expected or implied time, often conveying a sense of “it’s already done, why are you asking?” or “that happened a while ago.”

📋 Grammar Structure

「とっくに」 is an adverb, so it typically precedes a verb, an adjective, or a noun phrase. It is almost always used with verbs in the past tense (た形) or the -ている form (indicating a state that began in the past). It can also precede a state expressed by a noun + だ/です.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Less frequent in highly formal or polite contexts, but can be used if the situation allows for directness. Tone should be considered carefully.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in everyday, casual conversations among friends, family, or close colleagues.

✍️ Written Language

Common in informal written communication such as personal emails, casual blog posts, or text messages. Less common in formal documents or academic writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Highly frequent and natural in spoken Japanese, used to convey the nuance of something having happened well in the past.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing completion much earlier than expected
Used to state that an action was finished a significant time ago, often to reassure or to express that a task is no longer pending.
Example: 宿題はとっくに終わったよ。 (The homework was finished ages ago!)
Responding with “that’s old news” or “it’s obvious”
When someone asks about something that happened a while ago, 「とっくに」 can be used to imply that the information is already known or outdated.
Example: そのニュースはとっくに知っていたよ。 (I already knew that news a long time ago.)
Emphasizing a state that has existed for a while
Used to indicate that something has been in a certain condition or state for a considerable period.
Example: 子供たちはとっくに寝ているよ。 (The children have been asleep for a long time now.)
📊
Frequency
High. It is a very natural and commonly used adverb in daily Japanese conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2. While its basic meaning is straightforward, mastering the nuanced implication of “earlier than expected/implied” and distinguishing it from similar adverbs like 「もう」 requires practice and exposure.
Example Sentences
宿題はとっくに終わったよ。
The homework was finished ages ago.
彼はとっくに家を出たはずだ。
He should have left home a long time ago.
そのニュースはとっくに知っていた。
I already knew that news a long time ago.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis on “Earlier Than Expected”
「とっくに」 places strong emphasis on the fact that an action or state occurred significantly earlier than what the listener might assume or earlier than the present moment. It carries a stronger implication of “long ago” than 「もう」 (already).
Example: 「まだ手紙出してないの？」 「とっくに出したよ！」 (“Haven’t you sent the letter yet?” “I sent it ages ago!”)
Implication of “No Need to Ask/Worry”
Often, using 「とっくに」 implies that the question or concern being raised is unnecessary because the matter has been taken care of a while ago.
Example: ご飯はとっくにできているから、早く食べよう。(Dinner’s been ready for ages, so let’s eat quickly.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using with non-past tenses
✅ Do not use 「とっくに」 with future or present tense verbs. It always refers to something that has already happened or been in a state for a while.
「とっくに」 inherently carries a past-oriented meaning. For example, 「とっくに食べる」 (will eat long ago) is incorrect. It should be 「とっくに食べた」 (ate long ago).
❌ Overusing when 「もう」 is sufficient
✅ If the nuance of “a long time ago” or “earlier than expected” is not necessary, 「もう」 might be a more natural choice.
「もう」 simply means “already.” 「とっくに」 adds the extra layer of “a long time ago” or “well before now.” Use 「とっくに」 when you want to emphasize this earlier completion.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally neutral. However, depending on the tone of voice, it can sometimes sound slightly impatient or dismissive if used too bluntly, especially when responding to a superior or elder. In casual settings, it’s perfectly natural.
Social Situations: Most frequently used in casual and informal social interactions, such as conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues. It helps convey a sense of familiarity and directness.
Regional Variations: The usage and nuance of 「とっくに」 are generally consistent across different regions of Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

とっくに vs. もう
「とっくに」 emphasizes that something happened “a considerable time ago” or “much earlier than expected/implied.” 「もう」 simply means “already,” without necessarily emphasizing the time elapsed.
When to use: Use 「とっくに」 when you want to highlight the significant passage of time since an event occurred or to imply that the question is unnecessary. Use 「もう」 for a general “already.”
とっくに vs. ずっと前に
Both mean “a long time ago,” but 「とっくに」 often implies a sense of completion or a state that has persisted for a while, often with a nuance of “so why are you asking now?” or “it’s done, don’t worry.” 「ずっと前に」 simply states that something happened a long time ago without this extra nuance.
When to use: Use 「とっくに」 when you want to convey the “already done, why bother?” or “it’s been this way for ages” feeling. Use 「ずっと前に」 for a more neutral statement about something occurring in the distant past.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

「とっくに」 functions as an adverb, so it does not conjugate itself. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or states that follow it. The verb or adjective it modifies will be in the appropriate tense (usually past or ている form).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

「とっくに」 is pronounced “tokkuni.” Pay attention to the small 「っ」 (sokuon), which indicates a glottal stop or a brief pause before the 「く」 sound. This creates a distinct, clipped pronunciation, similar to a double consonant in English (e.g., “bookcase” where the “kk” is held briefly).

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「とっくに」 as “Took-kuni” – as in, “It TOOK care of itself, so it’s KUNIkely you need to worry anymore, because it happened a LONG time ago!” (A slightly humorous mnemonic to link “took” with past completion and “kuni” with the sound, and the general feeling of being finished.)

Vocabulary List
宿題
shukudai
homework
終わる
owaru
to finish
家
ie
house
出る
deru
to leave
はず
hazu
should (be), it is expected that
ニュース
nyuusu
news
知る
to know
Kanji List
宿
shuku
lodging, inn
題
dai
title, topic
終
o(waru)
end, finish
家
ie
house
出
de(ru)
exit, leave
知
shi(ru)
know
準
jun
standard, prepare
備
bi
equip, provide
子
ko
child
供
tomo
accompany, offer
寝
ne(ru)
lie down, sleep
Practice Exercises
「まだご飯食べてないの？」 「いいえ、＿＿＿＿＿＿食べましたよ。」
もう
とっくに
これから
まだ
あの映画は＿＿＿＿＿＿公開されたはずだよ。
もう
とっくに
これから
やっと
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