Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 2: 12/17

到頭(とうとう)
Finally, After all

Structure
とうとう + Phrase
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
とうとう is an adverb that is used to express that something 'finally' happens. In Japanese, there are a few ways to do this, but とうとう is one of the more common. Coming from the kanji 到頭(とうとう), this structure literally means 到 (to arrive at), 頭 (the head of/crux of) something. Due to this, 'finally', and 'after all' are the two most common translations of とうとう. Like many other adverbs in Japanese, とうとう is often used at the beginning of a phrase/sentence.
  • とうとうお前(まえ)大学生(だいがくせい)...
    So you're finally a college student... (After all this time, have you finally become a college student?)
  • とうとうロシア行(い)
    I will finally go to Russia. (After all this time, I can finally go to Russia)
While とうとう is written in hiragana the majority of the time, knowing the kanji will help when trying to remember the expression's nuance. That nuance is that something has 'ended', usually after some sort of long journey/effort.
This adverb may be used to express either positive or negative outcomes, as it focuses more on the time required to achieve the result, rather than the result being good or bad.
  • とうとう夏休(なつやす)み
    It's finally summer break! (Good result)
  • とうとう夏休(なつやす)み終(お)わる日(ひ)来(き)
    The day that summer break ends has finally arrived. (Bad result)
Caution
とうとう is not used in situations where you expect something to happen/start, but there has not actually been a period of time in which some sort of effort was made to achieve a result.
A good example of this is the changing of seasons. You might want to say 'finally, it's summer!', but this is not something that anyone has done anything to achieve. Rather, it came naturally. In these cases, いよいよ will be used, and has the nuance of 'finally', or 'at last' (in relation to something starting/happening).
  • いよいよ夏(なつ)来(き)
    Finally, summer has come. (Natural Japanese)
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とうとう休(やす)み
Finally it is my day off.
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とうとう彼(かれ)注射(ちゅうしゃ)打(う)った
He administered the shot after all. | He finally administered the shot.
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それとうとう捨(す)てた
I finally threw that away. | I threw that away after all.
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