How to say 'Unintentionally' in Japanese | つい

word

Meaning

Unintentionally

Reading

Explanation

The Japanese adverb 'つい' is used to describe an action that is done unintentionally, accidentally, or without thinking. It often implies that the action was a slip of the mind or a momentary lapse in judgment. For example: I unintentionally ate too much「つい食べ過ぎてしまった」(ついたべすぎてしまった). He accidentally told the secret「つい秘密を話してしまった」(ついひみつをはなしてしまった). The word can also carry a nuance of regret or surprise, depending on the context. It is commonly used in casual conversations and is often paired with verbs in the past tense.

Part Of Speech

adverb

Frequency

2080

Composition

hiragana

Handwriting