N2 Time Adverbs
Adverbs are pretty easy, but these adverbs require a tiny bit more explanation. These adverbs are all common and pretty useful, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you already knew them.
とっくに
Already a long time ago
とっくに just means “Already X a long time ago”.
It is frequently used as もうとっくに.
Slight tendency to be used with よ.
Examples
- もうとっくにやめたよ。 – He already quite a long time ago.
- とっくに終わったよ – It finished a long time ago.
- とっくに寝る時間だよ. – It’s far past your bed time.
やがて
Eventually/Soon after
やがて is annoying because it has 2 opposite meanings of “Eventually” and “Soon”.
In most cases context will make it obvious, but if not its probably “soon”.
Soon
- やがて来る引退 – The (soon) coming retirement. (Unless the person is 20)
- やがて朽ちていく – Soon rot away.
- やがて忘れられる – Soon forgotten.
- やがて京都駅に着く – Arrive at Kyoto Station soon.
Eventually
This meaning tends to be used with uncertainty type words like だろう.
Its not a requirement however.
- 彼はやがて有名人になるだろう – He will (Eventually/soon) become famous.
- やがて平和は訪れるだろう。 Peace will eventually come.
いよいよ
At long last/Finally
いよいよ technically has 2* meanings according to 小学館:
- Finally/At long last — Most common and the one you should learn
- Increasingly pronounced or clear*
*Technically 4, but I combined meanings for simplicity.
Finally
This is the most common usage and is used for something you are anxiously waiting for.
Typically used at the beginning of a sentence/clause and right before the thing waited on.
- いよいよ卒業の日が来た – At long last, graduation day has come.
- いよいよ試合が始まろうとしている – At long last the match is about to begin.
- 旅行はいよいよ来週になった – The trip is finally next week.
With 時
When used with 時, it implies “finality” or “shit hitting the fan”.
The meaning is something like “When it finally happens” or “When the time comes”.
Basically the same as いざという時.
- いよいよの時は。。。- When it finally happens/When it comes to it…
- いよいよという時は家族を頼む – When it finally happens, take care of my family.
Increasingly
This meaning is used for the degree of something increasing.
To me, this also has a “finally” feeling to it. (Like it took time)
- いよいよ雨が激しくなった (Weblio) – The rain has finally gotten stronger.
- いよいよ分かってきた – I’m finally starting to understand.
- いよいよ彼が怪しい – At last, he’s starting to look suspicious.