Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 5: 6/18

やがてBefore long, All too soon, In the end, Eventually

Structure

やがて + Phrase

Details

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    Formal

  • Rare Kanji

    軈て

About やがて

軈(やが)て, meaning 'all too soon' is an adverb that appears at the beginning of sentences in order to indicate that some particular state that does not currently exist, will end up happening within an unspecified (usually short) amount of time. This can be translated as 'before long (A)', 'in the end (A)', or 'eventually (A)'.

In the vast majority of cases, やがて will appear in hiragana.

Caution

In cases where やがて is used with a specified amount of time, it may be interpreted as 'nearly'.

  • やがて６０(ろくじゅっ)歳(さい)になるけど、経済的(けいざいてき)に余裕(よゆう)がないので死(し)ぬまで働(はたら)き続(つづ)けざるを得(え)ない。
    I am nearly 60 years old, however, I have no choice but to keep working till I die because I have no excess money.
  • 日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)し始(はじ)めてから、やがて２(に)年(ねん)が経(た)つ。
    It has been nearly 2 years since I have started studying Japanese.

Fun-fact

Originally, やがて was just used as a way to express the existence of something which has not currently taken place. Due to this, it had many more meanings in the past. This included things such as 'namely', 'immediately', 'in a moment', and others. All of these meanings simply hinted at the fact that the expression following やがて was already expected or known.

Examples

--:--

    軈(やが)てきみは失恋(しつれん)したことも忘(わす)れるかもしれない。

    Perhaps, eventually you will forget you were once heartbroken.

    軈(やが)て３０(さんじゅっ)歳(さい)になるけど、お金(かね)も名声(めいせい)も持(も)ってない。

    Although I will be 30 all too soon, I have neither money nor fame.

    それがきっかけで、軈(やが)て新(あら)たな戦争(せんそう)が起(お)こる可能性(かのうせい)がある。

    As a result of that, a new war might break out soon.

    オデュッセウス：「時間(じかん)と手間(てま)をかけても、軈(やが)て家(いえ)に帰(かえ)れる！」

    Odysseus: 'Even if it takes time and effort, I will eventually return home!'

    どんな本(ほん)も軈(やが)て読(よ)み終(お)わります。けれど、果(は)たしてそれは本当(ほんとう)でしょうか？

    No matter the book, it will come to an end before long. However, I wonder is that really true?

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      やがて – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • FredKore

        FredKore

        What do you think? I know it’s a different nuance, but it seems like this is related to ついに, とうとう, いよいよ. Too different?

      • Baq

        Baq

        Is it just me or does the translated sentence not really make sense?

        私が眼鏡を探し始めてから、軈て３時間になる
        It will have been three hours since I started searching for my glasses all too soon.

        Wouldn’t it be more like… All too soon/before long it will have been three hours since I started searching for my glasses?

        Only a minor thing tho I guess xD

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