JLPT N3

いったい

What on earth; how in the world; really

Structure

いったい + Interrogative (疑問詞)

How it works

いったい is an intensifier used with interrogative words (who, what, where, etc.) to express strong surprise, confusion, doubt, or exasperation. It emphasizes the speaker's bewilderment.

Examples

いったい何を考えているんだ？

What on earth are you thinking?

Common mistakes

Using it in a simple, neutral question where no strong emotion is intended.

Tip

Think of it as adding 'on earth' or 'in the world' to a question.

More JLPT N3 grammar

としてに対してについてによってに関してにとってわけだわけがない

See いったい in real Japanese

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