つまり

つまり is used when you RESTATE what you just said in a clearer way, or draw a conclusion: 彼は母の弟です。つまり、私のおじです (he is my mother's younger brother. In other words, my uncle). What follows つまり must have the same content as what precedes it, only phrased differently.

Two familiar uses: explaining a roundabout relationship or concept with one neat word (…つまり伯母です); and summing up what the other person said in order to confirm it: つまり、行きたくないということですね (so in short, you don't want to go, right?). The second type very often ends with ということだ.

Distinguish: したがって draws a NEW conclusion from grounds, while つまり adds no new information — it just says the same thing again. As for 〜というのは〜ことだ, that pattern is a proper frame for DEFINING terms, whereas つまり can flexibly slip into the middle of your speech whenever you need to "translate" your own point.

Examples

• 彼(かれ)は母(はは)の弟(おとうと)です。つまり、私(わたし)のおじです。

  He is my mother's younger brother. In other words, he's my uncle.

• 来月(らいげつ)から値段(ねだん)が上(あ)がります。つまり、今(いま)買(か)ったほうが得(とく)だということです。

  Prices will go up starting next month. In other words, it's better to buy now.

• つまり、あなたは行(い)きたくないということですね。

  So in short, you don't want to go, right?

Related patterns

• 〜というのは〜ことだ
• 〜ということだ