やっぱり
yappari[ja̠p̚pa̠ɾʲi]alternative form
In Japanese, 'after all' can be expressed in several ways, such as やっぱり (yappari) or 結局. Wiktionary also lists やはり (yahari) and 所詮 (shosen).
Meaning: anyway, in any case (prep_phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| やっぱり | yappari | [ja̠p̚pa̠ɾʲi] (narrow) | alternative form |
| やはり | yahari | [ja̠ha̠ɾʲi] (narrow) | |
| 結局 | kekkyoku | [ke̞k̚ʲkʲo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) | |
| 所詮 | shosen | [ɕo̞sẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
The translation of 'after all' depends on whether you mean 'as expected' or if you are describing a final result. Use versions like やっぱり to express that something happened just as you thought it would. Use 結局 to focus on the final outcome or the end of a process, often translated as 'in the end'.
Which one should you use?
There are distinct differences between these forms. やっぱり and やはり imply 'as expected' or 'just as I thought'. In contrast, 結局 focuses on the final result of a situation, meaning 'in the end' or 'after all' in a conclusive sense. Finally, 所詮 carries a dismissive tone, used to express resignation or the realization that something is 'merely' or 'nothing more than' a certain way.
How do you pronounce it?
yappari
Did you know?
- The formal version やはり may actually be a linguistic 'mistake' caused by people trying to sound more educated. It is believed to be a back-formation from the casual やっぱり, created by speakers attempting to 'correct' the pronunciation of the word.
- The word やっぱり can act as a social 'buffer' when you change your mind. It signals to the listener that you are correcting your previous statement based on new information, making the change of mind feel more natural.
- The word 所詮 is not just a synonym for 'after all' but carries a heavy tone of resignation. It is used to suggest that an outcome was inevitable and often implies that a situation is 'nothing more than' something disappointing.
Examples in context
- 私は結局失敗した。I failed after all.This sentence shows how to use 結局 to describe a failed outcome.Tatoeba #157333 by bunbuku, translation #257200 by CM
- 彼は結局正しかった。He was right after all.This sentence illustrates the use of 結局 to describe a final realization of being correct.Tatoeba #107802 by bunbuku, translation #295883 by CK
- 結局、来なかったよ。They didn't show up after all.This sentence demonstrates how 結局 describes a final result where someone did not appear.Tatoeba #11075451 by small_snow, translation #11764189 by CK
- 結局、努力は報われました。After all, my hard work paid off.
- 何しろ、彼は経験豊かなエンジニアです。After all, he is an experienced engineer.
- 彼はやっぱり勝ちました。He won after all.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are discussing whether to go to a movie.
- 健太 Kenta映画、行く？Eiga, iku?Are you going to the movie?
- 陽葵 Himariやっぱり、やめておく。Yappari, yamete oku.Anyway, I'll pass on it.
- 健太 Kentaどうして？Doshite?Why?
- 陽葵 Himari今日は疲れたから。Kyou wa tsukareta kara.Because I'm tired today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “after all” translations and entries やっぱり, やはり, 結局, 所詮, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries やっぱり, やはり, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
