Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 10: 4/20

つい

Accidentally, Unconsciously, Against one's better judgement

Usually ends with てしまう

Structure

つい + Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About つい

Appearing most frequently at the beginning of sentences, つい is an adverb that may be translated as 'accidentally', 'unconsciously', 'absentmindedly', or 'against one's better judgment'. つい will often be paired with statements that use てしまう, to emphasize that something was unintentional.
  • ごめんタケシ君(くん)のクッキーが目(め)の前(まえ)にあったからつい食(た)べてしまった。
    Sorry Takeshi-kun, your cookie was right in front of me, so I absentmindedly ate it.
  • 先生(せんせい)に怒(おこ)られると、つい笑(わら)っちゃうんだよね。
    When I am being scolded by the teacher, I unconsciously laugh.
  • 運転中(うんてんちゅう)に携帯(けいたい)を使(つか)ったらだめなのは分(わ)かっているんだけど、メールが来(く)るとつい携帯(けいたい)を見(み)ちゃう。
    I know that I shouldn't use my phone while driving, but when I get a text I unconsciously look at my phone.
Fun Fact
Although 'accidentally' is the most common meaning of つい, it actually may be used to convey three different nuances. These are as follows:
はからず - Something that is uncalculated.
思(おも)わず - Something that is not thought about.
距離(きょり)がわずかなさま - A small gap/interval.
In each of these meanings, つい keeps a sense of time being the most important factor. Due to this, つい will give the impression that whatever resulted in the 'accidental' action, will be something that happened momentarily. This is very close to the meaning of 'lapse' in English. 'a lapse in time', 'a lapse in judgment', 'a lapse in forethought'.
  • 早(はや)く起(お)きて準備(じゅんび)をしても、つい遅(おく)れてしまう。
    Even if I wake up early to get ready, I'll be late due to a lapse of time.
  • 電車(でんしゃ)が遅(おく)れると、ついイライラしてしまう。
    When the train is late, I'll get angry due to a lapse in judgment.
  • お腹(なか)が空(す)いていなくても、目(め)の前(まえ)に食(た)べ物(もの)があるとつい食(た)べてしまう。
    Even if I am not hungry, if there is food in front of me, I will eat it due to a lapse of forethought.

Examples

  • ダイエット中(ちゅう)なのに、ついアイスクリームを食(た)べてしまう。

    Against my better judgment, I eat ice cream while on a diet.

  • 笑(わら)ってはいけないのに、つい笑(わら)ってしまうことになる。

    Since I am not supposed to laugh, it feels like I might accidentally laugh.

  • 運転(うんてん)中(ちゅう)、ついよそ見(み)をしてしまう。

    While driving, I become unconsciously inattentive.

  • 「つい食(た)べ過(す)ぎてしまう」なんて言(い)い訳(わけ)だ。

    Saying things like: 'I unconsciously eat too much' is just an excuse.

  • 仕事(しごと)中(ちゅう)でもついスマホをいじってしまう。

    I always find myself unconsciously fiddling with my smartphone while I am working.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

つい – Grammar Discussion

    There's currently no discussion for つい
    Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

Join the Discussion