GrammarJLPT N5
→ that is to say
That Is to Say / In Short
JLPT N5AdverbNeutral
つまり is a conjunctive adverb used to restate, summarize, or clarify what has just been said. It functions much like the English expressions "that is to say," "in other words," or "in short." The speaker uses つまり to boil down a previous statement into a simpler or more direct formulation, often drawing a conclusion or making the essential point explicit. It is neutral in register and appears freely in both spoken and written Japanese. Compared to すなわち, which is more formal and literary, つまり feels natural in everyday conversation. Meanwhile, 要するに ("to sum up") places stronger emphasis on summarizing a longer or more complex explanation, whereas つまり can be used even for short, simple restatements. つまり typically appears at the beginning of a clause or sentence, often followed by a pause or comma, and connects the preceding context to a rephrased or concluded version of the same idea.
Functions
#1 Restating or clarifying a previous statement
Structure
Statement A。つまり、Statement B。
彼女は私の母の姉です。つまり、私のおばです。
Here つまり is used to restate a somewhat roundabout description in simpler, more direct terms. The first sentence explains the family relationship in detail, and つまり introduces a cleaner rephrasing that makes the relationship immediately clear. This is the most fundamental use of つまり: taking what was just said and expressing the same idea in a more accessible way.She is my mother's older sister. That is to say, she is my aunt.
Structures
- General use
- Statement A。つまり、Statement B (restated / summarized version of A)
Common mistakes
A common error is confusing つまり with やっぱり ("as expected"); while both can appear at the start of a sentence, つまり restates or summarizes, whereas やっぱり confirms an expectation. Another mistake is using つまり to introduce entirely new information rather than a restatement or logical consequence of what was already said — つまり should always connect back to the preceding context. Some learners also mix up つまり and すなわち; while they are similar in meaning, すなわち sounds formal and literary, so using it in casual conversation can sound stiff. Finally, placing つまり at the end of a sentence instead of at the beginning of the restating clause is a structural error to watch out for.
Related
すなわち要するにつまるところというのは言い換えれば結局