つまり

• Reading: つまり
• Romaji: tsumari
• Formation: Sentence A。つまり、Sentence B

Meaning

An adverb used to summarise or rephrase what has been previously stated. It functions like 'in other words,' 'that is to say,' or 'in short' in English.

つまり signals that the speaker is about to restate the preceding information in a clearer, more concise, or more direct way. It is often used to draw a conclusion or clarify the essence of what was just said. Unlike すなわち, which is more formal and literary, つまり is natural in both spoken and written Japanese. It can also express a logical consequence or the bottom line of a discussion. Learners sometimes confuse it with 要するに, which has a similar meaning but carries a stronger nuance of cutting through detail to get to the point.

Examples

1. 彼は私の母の兄です。つまり、私の叔父です。 He is my mother's older brother. In other words, he is my uncle.
2. 来月から値上げされる。つまり、今買ったほうが安い。 Prices will go up starting next month. That is to say, it's cheaper to buy now.
3. 二人とも不合格だった。つまり、全員落ちたということだ。 Both of them failed. In other words, everyone failed.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: explanatory

Do Say

• 売上が下がり、社員も減った。つまり、会社は厳しい状況だ。
• 試験に受からなかった。つまり、もう一年勉強しなければならない。
• 彼は毎朝六時に起きて走っている。つまり、とても自律的な人だ。

Don't Say

• つまり、今日はいい天気ですね。(Using つまり to start a new topic — つまり summarises prior content, not to introduce unrelated statements) → ところで、今日はいい天気ですね。
• つまり、ラーメンを食べたい。(Using つまり to express a personal desire without prior context — つまり requires a preceding statement to rephrase) → とにかく、ラーメンを食べたい。

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 詰まる (tsumaru), meaning 'to be packed' or 'to be stuck.' The adverbial usage evolved from the sense of arriving at a condensed or essential point.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal