つまり is a conjunction used to restate, clarify, or summarize what has just been said. It functions similarly to "in other words," "that is to say," "in short," or "to sum up" in English. It signals that the speaker is about to express the same idea in a simpler, more direct, or more concise way.
Restating or clarifying
The most common use of つまり is to rephrase something for clarity or emphasis. The speaker says something, then uses つまり to restate it in different words.
。、。
He is my mother's older brother. In other words, he is my uncle.
。、。
Tomorrow is Sunday. In other words, work is off.
Summarizing
つまり can also be used to draw a conclusion or summarize a longer explanation into a key point.
まし、、。
I've explained various things, but in short, this project is canceled.
Usage notes
- つまり typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or between two clauses. It is often followed by a comma in writing.
- It can be used in both casual and formal contexts, so it works across speech levels.
- Be careful not to confuse つまり with (ようするに), which also means "in short." While both are used to summarize, often carries a stronger nuance of getting to the essential point and can sometimes sound slightly impatient or blunt, whereas つまり is more neutral and simply rephrases or clarifies.
- つまり can also be used when the speaker is thinking out loud and arriving at a realization or logical conclusion:
。、。
The lights are on. That means someone is there.
Lingaku