つい

accidentally, unintentionally, by mistake, unconsciously, against one's better judgement

AI-generated

Structure

つい + [verb て-form] + しまう

Description

つい means "without meaning to", "couldn't help it": you did something out of habit or impulse, often knowing you shouldn't. It goes before the verb, and the verb almost always ends in きごう〜てしまう (casually 〜ちゃう), which adds the regret.

。

I ended up eating too much.

、。

I'm on a diet, but I couldn't help buying a cake.

、。

It was so interesting that I ended up reading it to the end.

。

I said something I shouldn't have.

In the present tense it describes a habit you can't break.

、。

When I'm tired, I can't stop myself eating sweets.

Because つい is about what you did not choose, it does not go with a plan, an intention or a request: ×つい食べよう, ×つい食べてください.

つい or うっかり

Both translate as "accidentally". つい is impulse or habit: you half knew and did it anyway. うっかり is carelessness: your attention slipped and you didn't notice.

。

I let my real feelings slip out.

I couldn't hold it in.

。

I carelessly forgot my keys.

My mind was elsewhere.

"Just" with time and place

Before a word for a time or a distance, つい means "only just": ついせんじつ先日"just the other day", ついさっき "just a moment ago". This つい has nothing to do with impulse.

、。

I saw him just the other day.

。

I got home just a moment ago.

Examples

。

I accidentally overslept.

、。

The drama was so interesting that I ended up staying up late.

、。

Even though I'm on a diet, I can't help eating sweets.

。

I accidentally let my friend's secret slip.

、。

It was cheap, so I unintentionally bought too much.

、。

His face was so funny that I couldn't help laughing.

。

I can't help remembering things from the past.

、。

I didn't intend to get angry, but I ended up getting angry anyway.

、。

I accidentally said one thing too many, and I regret it.

、。

I was looking at my phone and unintentionally lost track of time.

、。

A nostalgic song came on, and I couldn't help humming along.

、。

I was tired and accidentally fell asleep on the train.

References

ついBunpro

ちゃんと / きちんと

ついでに