いつも
彼はいつも遅刻する。
He is always late.
At all times; without exception
彼女は日曜日にいつも公園に行きます。
She goes to the park every Sunday.
彼はいつも笑顔だ。
He always has a smile on his face.
Used to emphasize regularity or frequency in habits, states, or actions. Can imply 'as usual' in certain contexts.
Usually; generally; as a rule
冬はいつも寒いです。
Winters are usually cold.
このレストランはいつも混んでいる。
This restaurant is usually crowded.
Indicates typical or expected behavior or conditions.
Pro Tip
Emphasizing habits
Use 'いつも' to highlight routines or repeated actions. Example: 'いつも朝ごはんを食べます' (I always eat breakfast).
Gold Rule
Position in sentence
'いつも' typically appears before the verb or adjective it modifies. Example: '彼はいつも忙しい' (He is always busy).
Word Origin
From Old Japanese 'itu mo' (いつも), combining 'itu' (when) and 'mo' (also/even). The modern form emerged in the Heian period (794–1185).
Usage Notes
Used in both spoken and written Japanese. In formal writing, '常に' (tsuneni) may be preferred for emphasis on constancy. 'いつも' can sound slightly casual but is widely accepted in all contexts.