つまり: 'In Other Words' / 'In Short' (Meaning + Examples)
What it means
つまり connects two statements where the second one re-expresses the first. You use it when you want to:
- rephrase something in clearer or simpler words,
- define a term you just used, or
- draw a conclusion from what came before.
The key idea: the information is already there. つまり just packages it differently so the listener gets it.
母の姉、つまり私のおばが来た。
ははの あね、つまり わたしの おばが きた。
My mother's older sister — that is, my aunt — came over.
つまり renames 母の姉 in plainer terms.
ヤッタンは三日間連絡がない。つまり、何かあったということだ。
ヤッタンは みっかかん れんらくが ない。つまり、なにか あった ということだ。
Yattan hasn't been in touch for three days. In short, something must have happened.
つまり draws a conclusion, closed off with ということだ.
先生は「やり直し」と言った。つまり、もう一度やれということだ。
せんせいは「やりなおし」と いった。つまり、もう いちど やれ ということだ。
The teacher said 'do it over.' In other words, he wants me to do it one more time.
How to form it
つまり sits at the start of a sentence (or clause), usually followed by a comma. It needs no special conjugation — just place it before the restatement.
| Position | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence-initial | 〜。つまり、〜。 | 高い。つまり、買えない。 |
| Mid-sentence (appositive) | 名詞、つまり名詞 | 母の姉、つまり私のおば |
| With a closing phrase | 〜。つまり、〜ということだ／わけだ。 | 連絡がない。つまり、忘れたわけだ。 |
The last pattern is extremely common. Because つまり signals a conclusion, it pairs naturally with 〜わけだ ("so that means…") or 〜ということだ ("which means…") at the end.
More examples
この店は日曜が休みだ。つまり、明日は開いていない。
この みせは にちようが やすみだ。つまり、あした は ひらいて いない。
This shop is closed on Sundays. In short, it won't be open tomorrow.
モチは肉も魚も食べない。つまり、ベジタリアンだ。
モチは にくも さかなも たべない。つまり、ベジタリアンだ。
Mochi eats neither meat nor fish. In other words, she's a vegetarian.
弟は宿題を全部忘れた。つまり、また怒られるわけだ。
おとうとは しゅくだいを ぜんぶ わすれた。つまり、また おこられる わけだ。
My little brother forgot all his homework. So that means he'll get scolded again.
つまり + わけだ: a natural conclusion from the facts.
つまり vs すなわち vs 要するに
All three restate, but the register and feel differ. Keep them straight:
- つまり — neutral, all-purpose "in other words / that is." Works in speech and writing.
- すなわち (即ち) — more formal, bookish "namely / that is precisely." Used in writing, academic or legal text. 日本の首都、すなわち東京 ("Japan's capital, namely Tokyo").
- 要するに (ようするに) — "to sum up / the point is," used when you want to cut to the bottom line, often after a long or messy explanation. Slightly blunt; can sound impatient.
Rough guide: when you simply rephrase, reach for つまり. When you want it to sound formal, すなわち. When you're boiling a long story down to its essence, 要するに.
Common mistakes
- Using つまり to add new information. つまり only restates or concludes what's already been said. If you're introducing a fresh point, use それから / また / さらに, not つまり. ✗ 来週は試験だ。つまり、来月は旅行に行く。(unrelated new fact)
- Treating it like すなわち in formal writing. In a stiff academic or legal sentence, すなわち is the safer choice; つまり can read a touch casual there.
- Forgetting the conclusion can need a closing phrase. When つまり leads to an inference, finish with ということだ or わけだ so the logic lands: 連絡がない。つまり、忘れたということだ。
- Putting つまり in the middle of a clause. It belongs at the start of the restatement (or between two nouns as an appositive), not buried inside a phrase.
Quick recap
- つまり = "in other words / that is / in short" — it restates or sums up, never adds new info.
- It sits sentence-initially, usually with a comma.
- It often pairs with 〜ということだ / 〜わけだ when drawing a conclusion.
- Register is neutral; compare すなわち (more formal "namely") and 要するに (to boil down to the point).
Your turn
Choose the sentence where つまり correctly restates or concludes.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Does つまり add new information?
No. つまり only restates or sums up what was already said — in clearer words, a definition, or a conclusion. To add a new point, use それから, また, or さらに instead.
What's the difference between つまり and すなわち?
They overlap, but すなわち is more formal and bookish ('namely'), common in academic or legal writing. つまり is neutral and works in everyday speech and writing.
How is 要するに different from つまり?
要するに means 'to sum up / the point is' and is used to cut to the bottom line after a long explanation. It can sound blunt. つまり simply rephrases and is more neutral.
Why does つまり often end with ということだ?
When つまり introduces a conclusion drawn from the facts, ということだ or わけだ closes the logic: 連絡がない。つまり、忘れたということだ ('No reply. That means he forgot').