いよいよ俺たちの出番だ。銃を準備しろ。
Finally, it’s our turn. Get the straps ready.
Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.
The Lowdown on いよいよ
Listen, いよいよ ain’t just your basic “finally.” It’s got that weight to it. Think of it like the intro to a Dr. Dre track—that slow build-up where you know something massive is about to drop. It’s the feeling right before the garage door slides up and your crew rolls out for a heist.
The Nuance: This grammar point describes a situation that has been building up for a minute, and now—damn—it’s finally happening. It’s used for big events, whether they’re hype or heavy. It carries a sense of “at last” or “the moment of truth.” In the streets, we use it when the tension is so thick you can cut it with a blade, and the climax is staring you in the face.
The Metaphor: Imagine you’re watching The Wire. The Barksdale crew has been dodging the feds for three seasons. The cops are outside with the battering ram, the stash is being flushed, and Stringer Bell realizes the game is up. That “oh shit” moment when the inevitable finally arrives? That’s いよいよ. It’s the final boss music starting to play.
Peep the chart below to see how we plug this into a sentence. It’s usually an adverb, so you just drop it right before the action starts.
| Grammatical Form | Japanese Example | English Translation |
| Adverbial Use | いよいよ作戦開始だ。 | Finally, the mission begins. |
| Degree (More & More) | 状況はいよいよ悪化した。 | The situation got worse and worse (more and more). |
Basically, you just slap いよいよ at the beginning of the clause or right before the verb. It doesn’t change its shape like some of those bitch-ass verbs. It stays solid. It usually signals that a long-awaited (or long-feared) event is kicking off right now. Sometimes it can also mean “more and more” when things are escalating, like when the heat from the precinct keeps getting hotter.
Read and master the example sentences below.
警察のガサ入れがいよいよ始まった。
The damn police raid has finally kicked off.
密輸船がいよいよ港に到着するぞ。
The smuggling ship is finally pulling into the docks.
いよいよ明日、銀行の金庫を爆破する。
Tomorrow is finally the day we blow the bank vault.
いよいよライバル組織との直接対決だ。
Finally, it’s the face-off with the rival syndicate.
捜査の手がいよいよ組長にまで及んだ。
The investigation has finally reached the big boss himself.
いよいよ新しいボスの時代が始まる。
Finally, the era of the new boss begins.
いよいよドバイへ高飛びする時間だ。
Finally, it’s time to flee the country to Dubai.
取り立て屋がいよいよドアを蹴り破った。
The debt collectors finally kicked the damn door down.
いよいよ脱獄決行の夜だ。看守の目を盗め。
It’s finally the night of the prison break. Stay out of the guards’ sight.
いよいよ俺も足を洗って、真っ当な人間になる決心がついた。
I’ve finally made up my mind to wash my hands of this life and go straight.
Stay dangerous.
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