決まって
彼は決まって遅刻する。
He is always late.
without exception; consistently; invariably
彼女は決まって朝食にコーヒーを飲む。
She always drinks coffee for breakfast.
このレストランは決まって混んでいる。
This restaurant is always crowded.
Used to emphasize a habitual action or state. Often follows the subject or a time expression.
Pro Tip
Contrast with いつも
決まって emphasizes a consistent pattern or expectation, while いつも simply states frequency. For example, '彼は決まって遅刻する' implies he is habitually late, whereas '彼はいつも遅刻する' just states he is often late.
Gold Rule
Placement
決まって typically follows the subject or a time expression. It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.
Word Origin
From the verb 決まる (kimaru, 'to be decided') + て-form of the auxiliary verb いる (iru), indicating a habitual or consistent state.
Usage Notes
決まって is used to describe actions or events that occur without exception. It is more formal than いつも and often implies a pattern or expectation. It typically appears after the subject or a time expression.