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

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.

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'.

Related

Examples

--:--

    つい楽(らく)な方(ほう)に流(なが)されてしまう。

    I always end up unconsciously taking the easy route.

    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.

    運動(うんどう)を始(はじ)めると、ついやり過(す)ぎてしまう。

    When I start doing exercises, I always end up accidentally overdoing it.

    笑(わら)ってはいけないのに、つい笑(わら)ってしまう。

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

    「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.

  • 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