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JLPT N3 · Time & sequence

ついに (tsui ni)

ついに — “finally / in the end”

In short · ついに is an adverb that shows a result reached after a long time or much effort: “finally.” With a positive verb it conveys a long-awaited result. With a negative verb it means “in the end ... did not happen.”
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Pattern

  • ついに + 動詞(過去形) ついに + verb in the past (ついに完成した)
  • ついに + 動詞ない形(過去) ついに + negative past (ついに来なかった): in the end, it didn't happen

Positive: “finally”

After a long process, a result arrives: 三年かかって、ついに小説が完成した. It usually carries a sense of achievement or relief. The result is something expected or hoped for.

Negative: “in the end, not”

With a negative verb it says something never happened despite waiting: 待ち続けたが、返事はついに来なかった. It carries disappointment.

Difference from やっと / とうとう

やっと stresses the difficulty or effort until the result. とうとう and ついに are very close and focus on the final arrival after a long time. ついに is a little more formal.

Examples

  • 三年(さんねん)かかって、ついに小説(しょうせつ)が完成(かんせい)した。

    Sannen kakatte, tsui ni shōsetsu ga kansei shita.

    After three years, the novel was finally completed.

  • 長年(ながねん)の努力(どりょく)が実(みの)り、ついに夢(ゆめ)がかなった。

    Naganen no doryoku ga minori, tsui ni yume ga kanatta.

    My years of effort paid off, and my dream finally came true.

  • 待(ま)ち続(つづ)けたが、返事(へんじ)はついに来(こ)なかった。

    Machitsuzuketa ga, henji wa tsui ni konakatta.

    I kept waiting, but in the end the reply never came.

    A negative verb: it never happened.

Common mistakes

  • Do not confuse it with つい (unintentionally). ついに has the long-wait meaning.
  • It is used for results that have already happened. For a future plan, use やっと〜できそうだ or そろそろ.

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