Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
In other words; in short; that is to say.
🎯 Primary Function
To provide a summary, conclusion, or rephrasing of information previously mentioned.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Sentence A]。つまり、[Sentence B/Noun]。
[I-Adjective] + [Sentence/Noun]。つまり、[Explanation]。
[Na-Adjective] + [Sentence/Noun]。つまり、[Explanation]。
[Negative Sentence]。つまり、[Explanation]。
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in presentations or meetings to summarize data or clarify complex points.
Informal Situations
Used when clarifying thoughts or making a point more direct during conversations.
Written Language
Used in essays and reports to connect ideas and provide summaries.
Spoken Language
Very common in everyday conversation to ensure the listener understands the intent.
💡 Common Applications
Rephrasing for Clarity
Taking a complex or specific term and explaining it in simpler terms.
Example: It’s a digital SLR camera. In other words, a professional one.
Summarizing Points
Gathering several facts and providing a single concluding point.
Example: He is late, forgot his wallet, and forgot the tickets. In short, he is clumsy.
Logical Identification
Directly equating two terms (A = B).
Example: My mother’s brother, namely my uncle.
Frequency
High. Used daily in both casual and business Japanese to clarify points.
Difficulty
N3 (Intermediate)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
父の弟、つまり私の叔父は東京に住んでいます。
Furigana: ちち
Romaji: Chichi no otouto, tsumari watashi no oji wa Toukyou ni sunde imasu.
English: My father’s younger brother, in other words, my uncle, lives in Tokyo.
Example #2
彼はいつも仕事に遅刻します。つまり、責任感がないということです。
Furigana: しごと
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo shigoto ni chikoku shimasu. Tsumari, sekininkan ga nai to iu koto desu.
English: He is always late for work. In other words, he lacks a sense of responsibility.
Example #3
締め切りは明日です。つまり、今日中に終わらせなければなりません。
Furigana: しめきり
Romaji: Shimekiri wa ashita desu. Tsumari, kyoujuu ni owarasenakereba narimasen.
English: The deadline is tomorrow. In other words, we have to finish it today.
Example #4
パーティーに行きたくないの？つまり、疲れているんだね？
Furigana: つか
Romaji: Paatii ni ikitakunai no? Tsumari, tsukarete irun dane?
English: You don’t want to go to the party? In short, you’re tired, right?
Example #5
彼女はＹＥＳともＮＯとも言わなかった。つまり、まだ考えているということだ。
Furigana: かんが
Romaji: Kanojo wa YES tomo NO tomo iwanakatta. Tsumari, mada kangaete iru to iu koto da.
English: She didn’t say yes or no. In other words, she’s still thinking about it.
Example #6
お金もないし仕事もない。つまり、困っているんだ。
Furigana: しごと
Romaji: Okane mo nai shi shigoto mo nai. Tsumari, komatte irunda.
English: I have no money and no job. In short, I’m in trouble.
Example #7
値段は同じだが、量が減った。つまり、値上げということだ。
Furigana: ねだん
Romaji: Nedan wa onaji da ga, ryou ga hetta. Tsumari, neage to iu koto da.
English: The price is the same but the volume decreased. In other words, it’s a price hike.
Example #8
彼は母の姉の夫、つまり私の伯父です。
Furigana: はは
Romaji: Kare wa haha no ane no otto, tsumari watashi no oji desu.
English: He is my mother’s sister’s husband. In other words, my uncle.
Example #9
テストの結果が悪かった。つまり、勉強不足だ。
Furigana: けっか
Romaji: Tesuto no kekka ga warukatta. Tsumari, benkyou busoku da.
English: The test results were bad. In other words, you didn’t study enough.
Example #10
この機械は故障している。つまり、今日は使えない。
Furigana: きかい
Romaji: Kono kikai wa koshou shite iru. Tsumari, kyou wa tsukaenai.
English: This machine is broken. In other words, we can’t use it today.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The Equality Rule (A = B)
Tsumari effectively creates an ‘A = B’ relationship in the listener’s mind.
Example: AさんはBさんの父の兄です。つまり、伯父です。
Clarification Requests
It is frequently used to ask for clarification when someone’s explanation is vague.
Example: つまり、どういうことですか？ (So, what do you mean exactly?)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using つまり to describe the final outcome of a long sequence of events (like ‘after all’).
✅ 結局 (Kekkyoku) is for the end result of a process; つまり (Tsumari) is for logical rephrasing.
Users often use Tsumari to mean ‘eventually’, but it actually means ‘in other words’.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both polite (Desu/Masu) and casual settings.
Social Situations: Essential for effective communication in logical arguments or explaining family relationships.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
つまり vs. 要するに (Yousuru ni)
‘Yousuru ni’ is specifically for ‘to sum it up’ or ‘in a nutshell’, whereas ‘Tsumari’ is broader (including simple rephrasing).
When to use: Use ‘Yousuru ni’ when you want to boil down a long story into one sentence.
つまり vs. すなわち (Sunawachi)
‘Sunawachi’ is very formal and academic, often used in writing.
When to use: Use ‘Sunawachi’ in academic papers or formal speeches.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘Tsumari’ is a conjunction and does not conjugate. It is usually placed at the start of a sentence or between two clauses followed by a comma.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a slight pause after ‘Tsumari’ to emphasize the summary that follows.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Tsumari’ as the ‘=’ sign in an equation. It connects what was said to what is about to be said as the same thing, just expressed differently.
Other Grammar
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