やがて

• Reading: やがて
• Romaji: yagate
• Pronunciation: /ja.ɡa.te/

Meaning

Before long; soon; shortly; eventually. Indicates something will naturally happen after some time passes.

An adverb expressing that something will happen after a waiting period. Unlike すぐに (immediately), やがて implies a natural progression of time. Often used in narrative or literary contexts. Can also mean approximately when used with quantities, though this usage is less common in modern Japanese.

Examples

1. 雨はやがて止むだろう。 The rain will stop before long.
2. やがて春が来て、桜が咲き始めた。 Before long, spring came and the cherry blossoms began to bloom.
3. 子供たちはやがて大人になる。 Children will eventually grow into adults.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, prediction, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From classical Japanese, originally meaning approximately or soon. The kanji form 軈て exists but is extremely rare. Over time the meaning narrowed to focus on temporal progression.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal