Grammar › N3 · 01 Connecting sentences

つまり: in other words; that is

N3 · 01 Connecting sentences

Restates what was said in a simpler or more exact way.

Sentence-opening connector used to rephrase, summarize, or draw a conclusion. The second part explains the first. Compare 要するに, which means "to sum up" and is a bit more blunt.

Examples

彼かれは父ちちの弟おとうと、つまり私わたしのおじです。

He is my father's younger brother, that is, my uncle.

来週らいしゅうは休やすみが取とれない。つまり、旅行りょこうには行いけないということだ。

I cannot take time off next week. In other words, it means I cannot go on the trip.

Study つまり in the course →