つまり

• 読み: つまり
• ローマ字: tsumari
• 漢字の分解: 詰 (kitsu/tsume) — pack, stuff, clog (kanji form 詰まり is rarely used)
• 発音: /tsɯ.ma.ɾi/

意味

That is to say; in other words; I mean. Used to rephrase or summarise a point.

An adverb used to clarify, rephrase, or draw a conclusion from what was just said. Extremely common in both spoken and written Japanese: つまり、こういうことだ (in other words, this is what it means). Can also express frustration when someone does not understand: つまり何が言いたいの？(So what are you trying to say?). Often interchangeable with 要するに.

例文

1. つまり、あなたは反対だということですか。
2. 彼は来ない。つまり、私たちだけで行くことになる。
3. つまり一番大事なのはコミュニケーションだ。

使い方ガイド

場面: conversation, writing, explanation

トーン: clarifying

起源と歴史

Written in kanji as 詰まり, from 詰まる (tsumaru, to be packed/clogged). The sense of 'stuffing everything together' evolved into 'summing up' — compressing information into its essence.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal