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

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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'.

  • 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

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    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.

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