いつも（いつも、itsumo）
- everytime

The Japanese word いつも means "always," "usually," "every time," or "often." It indicates that something happens frequently or habitually. It describes a situation, action, or state that occurs regularly, not just a one-time occurrence. It can refer to the frequency of an event or the state of being. The English equivalent can vary depending on the context, but the core meaning remains consistent: something happens regularly. いつも often implies a sense of routine or consistency.

⚫︎いつも朝ごはんを食べる。 Translation: I always eat breakfast. ⚫︎彼はいつも遅刻する。 Translation: He is always late. ⚫︎彼女はいつも親切だ。 Translation: She is always kind.

⚫︎ Use いつも to describe actions or states that happen frequently or habitually. ⚫︎ It is typically placed before the verb in a sentence, modifying the action. ⚫︎ It can also be used to describe someone's character or disposition. ⚫︎ いつも can be used in both formal and informal conversations.

⚫︎ いつも is written in hiragana. ⚫︎ There is no kanji for いつも. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 常に (つねに) - constantly, always (more formal) ⚫︎ いつも通り (いつもとおり) - as usual ⚫︎ しばしば - often, frequently ⚫︎ たいてい - usually, mostly

⚫︎ たまに - occasionally, sometimes ⚫︎ めったに - rarely, seldom ⚫︎ 決して (けっして) - never (used with negative verb)

私はいつもこのカフェで勉強します。 ・Translation: I always study at this cafe. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the speaker's regular habit of studying at the cafe.

彼はいつも笑顔でいる。 ・Translation: He is always smiling. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the person's constant state of being.

The etymology of いつも is not definitively known, but it is believed to be derived from the words いつ (itsu) meaning "when" and も (mo) meaning "also," "too," or emphasizing a previous term. Combining these words forms a phrase that implies "at all times" or "every time". The word then evolved to its current meaning of "always" or "usually."