JLPTN3・N4 Vocabulary – Difference between “やっと” and “ようやく”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “やっと” and “ようやく”
2. やっと
3. ようやく
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Is there a difference between “やっと” and “ようやく”?

A: These two are adverbs used when something long-awaited finally happens. In most cases, they can be used interchangeably, but the difference lies in the speaker’s feelings when speaking.

やっと (JLPT N4)

[Meanings]
・The state of realizing something after much effort and hardship.
・The state of personally achieving something or obtaining a desirable result.

[Points]
It is a colloquial term used in daily conversation.
The key point is that there were “hardships or obstacles” before achieving the goal. It strongly expresses the joy of overcoming difficulties and achieving long-awaited goals or meeting expectations.

[Examples]
ケーキやお菓子かしをがまんして、やっと5キロやせました。
By resisting cakes and sweets, I finally lost 5 kilograms.
⇒ Losing weight is a personal achievement.
　　
やっとＮ１に合格ごうかくしたよ！
I finally passed N1!
⇒ The speaker studied hard until I passed the N1 exam and finally succeeded through effort.

今週こんしゅうは忙いそがしくてゆっくりできなかったけど、今週こんしゅうはやっと休やすめるぞ。
I was busy this week and couldn’t relax, but I can finally rest this week.
⇒ Busyness was an obstacle, but the speaker can now rest.　

ようやく (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
The state of something being realized after a long period of time.

[Points]
Compared to “やっと,” it is often used in written language and gives a formal impression. The focus is on “reaching a certain result after spending time” rather than “effort and obstacles.” Therefore, it is used for “the passage of seasons and time” and “events or results long-awaited.” It expresses the joy of achieving something after a long time in a calm manner.

[Examples]
寒さむい冬ふゆが終おわってようやく春はるが来きました。
After the long winter, spring has finally arrived.
⇒ After waiting through the long winter, spring has come.

ようやく富士ふじ山さんの頂上ちょうじょうに来こられました。
I finally made it to the top of Mt. Fuji.
⇒ After taking a long time, the speaker was able to reach the top of Mt. Fuji.

このプロジェクトを始はじめるのに1年ねんもかかりましたが、ようやく動うごき出だせそうです。
It took a year to start this project, but it finally seems to be moving forward.
⇒ After a long year, they are finally able to start the project.

Let’s Compare

Let’s consider the difference further using the following sentences.

[Examples]
〇やっと試験しけんに合格ごうかくできました。
△ ようやく試験しけんに合格ごうかくできました。
Finally, I was able to pass the exam.
⇒ Using “やっと” emphasizes the speaker’s effort and hardship, whereas “ようやく” weakens that meaning and emphasizes the long time it took. Therefore, “やっと” is more appropriate in this sentence.

[Examples]　
△ 雪ゆきがとけて暖あたたかくなってやっと春はるが訪おとずれたようです。
〇雪ゆきがとけて暖あたたかくなってようやく春はるが訪おとずれたようです。　　　　
Finally, the snow has melted, and it seems spring has arrived.　　　　　　　　　　　　
⇒ Due to the seasonal change and the literary expression “訪おとずれる” (to arrive), “ようやく” is more appropriate. It also gives the entire sentence a more composed impression.

Summary

[やっと]

• Colloquial expression.
• It expresses “the state of having personally achieved something or obtained a desirable result” and “realizing something after much effort and hardship.”
• It emphasizes the joy when overcoming difficulties and achieving long-awaited goals and expectations.

[ようやく]

• Literal expression.
• It focuses on “reaching a certain result after spending time.”
• It expresses in a calm tone the achievement of a goal after a long period.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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