やはり

やはり
adverb
as expected, after all, still
1. as expected, as I thought
Used when something turns out as anticipated.
やはり雨(あめ)が降(ふ)った。
As I thought, it rained.
やはり難(むずか)しかった。
As expected, it was difficult.
やはり彼(かれ)が犯人(はんにん)だった。
As I thought, he was the culprit.
調(しら)べてみたら、やはり予想(よそう)通(どお)りだった。
When I looked into it, it was just as I predicted.
何度(なんど)も練習(れんしゅう)したが、やはり本番(ほんばん)では緊張(きんちょう)した。
I practiced many times, but as expected I was nervous during the real performance.
2. after all, in the end
Used when returning to an original conclusion.
やっぱり行(い)かない。
I'm not going after all.
やっぱり is casual form
やはりやめます。
I'm going to quit after all.
やはりこれが一番(いちばん)いいと思(おも)う。
I think this is the best after all.
考(かんが)え直(なお)して、やはり買(か)うことにした。
After reconsidering, I decided to buy it after all.
いろいろ迷(まよ)ったが、やはり最初(さいしょ)に見(み)つけた店(みせ)に戻(もど)ることにした。
I wavered back and forth, but in the end I decided to go back to the first shop I found.
3. still, even so
Emphasizing that something remains unchanged.
やはり日本(にほん)が好(す)きだ。
I still love Japan.
やはり母(はは)の料理(りょうり)が一番(いちばん)だ。
My mother's cooking is still the best.
何度(なんど)見(み)ても、やはり美(うつく)しい。
No matter how many times I see it, it's still beautiful.
長(なが)い間(あいだ)離(はな)れていたが、やはり故郷(ふるさと)はいいものだ。
I was away for a long time, but my hometown is still a wonderful place.
何年(なんねん)経(た)っても、やはりあの映画(えいが)が一番(いちばん)心(こころ)に残(のこ)っていると思(おも)う。
Even after many years, I still think that movie is the one that left the deepest impression on me.

やはり is an adverb with three core meanings: confirming expectations, returning to an original conclusion, and emphasizing that something remains unchanged.

FORMS:

  • やはり: standard/written
  • やっぱり: casual spoken form (most common in conversation)
  • やっぱ: very casual, informal speech

THREE MAIN USES:
1. As expected: やはり雨(あめ)が降(ふ)った (as I thought, it rained)
2. After all / change of mind back: やっぱり行(い)かない (I'm not going after all)
3. Still / as always: やはり母(はは)の料理(りょうり)が一番(いちばん)だ (mom's cooking is still the best)

POSITION:
Usually placed at the beginning of the sentence or just before the main predicate.

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • やはり思(おも)った通(とお)りだ: it was just as I thought
  • 案(あん)の定(じょう): as expected (more literary)
core
Added 2026.1.9 21:15 · Revised 2026.3.26 15:22
01500/01991_yahari