N430/179

とうとう

とうとう + verbとうとう + adjectiveとうとう + な-adjectiveとうとう + sentence

Meanings

Finally
at last
in the end
after all this time

About this pattern

Explanation

とうとう is a sentence adverb used to describe a culmination or completion after a long time or after many results. It carries a sense of inevitability or a long-awaited outcome, often with a hint of relief or frustration. It typically comes before the main clause and can modify verbs or predicates to emphasize that something finally happened or reached a conclusion.

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Example sentences

彼は長い旅の末、とうとう故郷に帰った。

After a long journey, he finally returned home.

何週間も探したが、とうとう見つからなかった。

I searched for weeks, but I finally couldn’t find it.

計画は何度も失敗したが、とうとう成功した。

The plan failed many times, but in the end it succeeded.

母はとうとう私を許してくれた。

My mother finally forgave me.

雨が長く続いたが、とうとう止んだ。

The rain continued for a long time, but it finally stopped.

Related patterns

Or something; Any... (with question words); No matter (who)

easy to (do); likely to (happen); easy to be affected by

Difficult to; Hard to; Not easy to do something

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More N4 patterns

Or something; Any... (with question words); No matter (who)

easy to (do); likely to (happen); easy to be affected by

Difficult to; Hard to; Not easy to do something

Gradually; Little by little; Step by step

more and more; rapidly; increasing quickly; progressively

We/They/You all (plural forms); These/Those (plural demonstratives); Plural suffix for certain pronouns and demonstratives