Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Always; usually; habitually; constantly. It indicates a high or perpetual frequency.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate the high frequency or constancy of an action, state, or condition.
📋 Grammar Structure
いつも + Verb (ます-form, dictionary form, or past form)
いつも + い-adjective (plain or polite form)
いつも + な-adjective + です/だ
いつも + Negative form of Verb/Adjective
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Perfectly acceptable, especially in fixed phrases like 「いつもありがとうございます」 (Thank you always) or 「いつもお世話になります」 (Thank you for your continued support).
Informal Situations
Extremely common and natural in daily conversation to talk about routines and habits.
Written Language
Used in descriptive writing, dialogue, and formal correspondence, though context might sometimes prefer more formal expressions depending on the document type.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent. Used to express personal habits, observations, and polite greetings.
💡 Common Applications
Describing Habitual Actions (Routines)
Used to state actions that the speaker or subject performs as a routine or habit, typically paired with the non-past tense.
Example: 毎朝、いつもコーヒーを飲みます。
Describing Constant States or Qualities
Used to indicate that a state or condition (often described by an adjective) is maintained continuously.
Example: 彼女の部屋はいつもきれいです。
Expressing Gratitude for Continuous Support (Business)
An essential formal/business phrase used to thank someone for their continued patronage, support, or kindness.
Example: いつもお世話になっております。
Frequency
Very High – Essential for daily conversation and formal greetings.
Difficulty
N5 – Easy to understand but requires careful differentiation from similar adverbs.
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Example Sentences
Example #1
私はいつも朝ごはんを食べます。
Furigana: わたしはいつもあさごはんをたべます。
Romaji: Watashi wa itsumo asagohan o tabemasu.
English: I always eat breakfast.
Example #2
彼はいつも忙しいです。
Furigana: かれはいつもいそがしいです。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo isogashii desu.
English: He is always busy.
Example #3
母はいつも優しくて、料理が上手です。
Furigana: はははいつもやさしくて、りょうりがじょうずです。
Romaji: Haha wa itsumo yasashikute, ryouri ga jouzu desu.
English: My mother is always kind and good at cooking.
Example #4
あの店はいつも人が多いですね。
Furigana: あの店はいつもひとがおおいですね。
Romaji: Ano mise wa itsumo hito ga ooi desu ne.
English: That store is always crowded, isn’t it?
Example #5
佐藤さんはいつも笑顔です。
Furigana: さとうさんはいつもえがおです。
Romaji: Satou-san wa itsumo egao desu.
English: Mr./Ms. Satou is always smiling (has a smiling face).
Example #6
遅刻する人はいつも田中さんです。
Furigana: ちこくするひとはいつもたなかさんです。
Romaji: Chikoku suru hito wa itsumo Tanaka-san desu.
English: The person who is late is always Tanaka-san.
Example #7
この本は面白くないので、いつも読みません。
Furigana: このほんはおもしろくないので、いつもよみません。
Romaji: Kono hon wa omoshiroku nai node, itsumo yomimasen.
English: Since this book isn’t interesting, I never read it (always don’t read it).
Example #8
お休みの日は、いつも何をしますか。
Furigana: おやすみのひは、いつもなにをしますか。
Romaji: O-yasumi no hi wa, itsumo nani o shimasu ka.
English: What do you usually do on your days off?
Example #9
授業でいつも同じ間違いをします。
Furigana: じゅぎょうでいつもおなじまちがいをします。
Romaji: Jugyou de itsumo onaji machigai o shimasu.
English: I always make the same mistake in class.
Example #10
いつもご利用ありがとうございます。
Furigana: いつもごりようありがとうございます。
Romaji: Itsumo go-riyou arigatou gozaimasu.
English: Thank you for always using (our service). (Standard business phrase)
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Use with Present Tense: It pairs primarily with the non-past form (〜ます/辞書形) for habitual actions.
When describing a repetitive or habitual action/state, いつも must be paired with the present tense (non-past form), regardless of whether the routine occurred in the past or continues into the future.
Example: 私はいつも家にいます。
Itsumo yori (いつもより): Can mean “more than usual” or “different from the usual.”
It can be followed by より (yori) to mean “earlier/more than usual.” This is a common and important variation.
Example: いつもより早く起きました。
Use in Greetings: It is often the opening word in polite business and formal gratitude expressions.
In greetings, it implies that the support or kindness is ongoing, making the expression warmer and more appreciative than a simple one-time thank you.
Example: いつも、ありがとうございます。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ずっと instead of いつも for habitual actions. (e.g., 私はずっと朝ごはんを食べます。)
✅ Use いつも.
ずっと (zutto) means “all the way through” or “continuously” (duration). いつも means “always” or “habitually” (frequency/routine). They are not interchangeable for describing a routine.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to High. While the word itself is neutral, its frequent use in keigo (honorific language) like 「いつもお世話になります」 makes it a key component of Japanese polite speech.
Social Situations: Crucial in greetings (business or neighborhood) to express continuous appreciation. Essential for discussing daily life and routines.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variation in meaning or usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
いつも (Itsumo) vs. たいてい (Taitei)
いつも indicates a frequency of 90-100% (“always” or “very regularly”). たいてい indicates 70-80% (“usually” or “mostly”).
When to use: Use いつも for strong, unbreakable habits or facts. Use たいてい when the action usually happens but there are occasional exceptions.
いつも (Itsumo) vs. 毎日 (Mainichi)
毎日 means “every single day” (a specific time period). いつも means “always” or “habitually” (a general frequency).
When to use: Use 毎日 when referring specifically to a daily occurrence (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…). Use いつも when talking about a general routine that is constant, even if not strictly 24/7.
📝 Conjugation Notes
As an adverb (副詞), いつも does not conjugate. It modifies the verb, i-adjective, or na-adjective that follows it.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce the three morae (i-tsu-mo) with a relatively flat pitch. The emphasis is typically not strong unless used emphatically.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of the phrase: ‘I TSU MO-rning I do this.’ (Every morning, I do this). Associate TSU-MO with routine and constant action.
Other Grammar
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