即ち | Grammar

Structure

[noun]、即ち + [noun] [sentence]。即ち、[sentence]

Description

即ち means "that is", "namely": what follows is the same thing as what came before, said more exactly. It stands between two nouns or two sentences and belongs to formal writing; in modern texts it is often written in kana, すなわち.

、。

She is my mother's older sister, that is, my aunt.

、。

Japan's capital, namely Tokyo, is one of the world's great cities.

。、。

This law comes into force next month. That is, it takes effect from April 1st.

Inside a sentence it can also sit between a subject and its predicate, saying that one simply is the other.

。

Silence was taken to mean consent.

即ち or つまり

In conversation the word is つまり. つまり also sums up or draws a conclusion from what was said; 即ち keeps to naming the same thing again, so it does not introduce a result.

。、。

This plan has failed. So we have no choice but to start over.

× この計画は失敗した。即ち、最初からやり直すしかない → つまり、最初からやり直すしかない

Examples

、。

She is my mother's older sister, namely my aunt.

。、。

This law will be enacted next month. That is, it will take effect from April 1st.

、。

Humans are social animals – in other words, beings that cannot live alone.

。

Silence was regarded as, in other words, consent.

、。

He is the company's founder, namely the person who started this business.

、。

Today is the vernal equinox – that is, the day when day and night are nearly equal in length.

、。

In other words, it means we only have two options.

、。

Please prepare the documents in this region's official language, namely French.

、、、。

The survey was carried out in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, that is, Japan's three largest cities.

、。

Earth's satellite, namely the Moon, is approximately 380,000 kilometers away.

References

即ちBunpro