目錄
Korean 「역시」 is often memorized simply as “as expected” or “just as I thought,” but once it appears in actual sentences, the English translation can vary considerably. 「역시 맛있어요」 can mean “It’s delicious, just as expected,” while 「이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요」 means “This menu item is popular too.” Then 「역시 전문가네요」 may be better understood as “As expected from an expert” or “You really are an expert.” If you memorize 「역시」 as only “as expected,” it is easy to understand every individual word in the latter two sentences yet still feel that the sentence as a whole does not quite make sense.
Although these translations look quite different, they share a similar underlying idea: the result, person, or judgment appearing at the moment of speaking matches something that already existed beforehand. Sometimes it matches an earlier expectation, sometimes it matches another item mentioned previously, and sometimes it matches a state that has remained unchanged over time. In 「아무리 생각해도 역시 직접 가는 게 좋겠어요」, for example, the speaker has considered other options but ultimately still thinks it would be better to go in person, so the sentence can be understood as “No matter how much I think about it, I still think it would be better to go in person.”
For that reason, there is no need to immediately force one English equivalent onto 「역시」 whenever you see it. Look at what the previous sentence was talking about, what the current statement is being compared with, and whether the speaker already had some kind of expectation. That usually makes it easier to tell whether 「역시」 here means “as expected,” “just as I thought,” “as you’d expect from,” “too,” “still,” or “after thinking it over, still.”
What Does Korean 「역시」 Mean? All Four Uses Relate to an Existing Reference Point
The common uses of Korean 「역시」 can be divided into four general directions: something is the same as an item mentioned earlier, a result matches an earlier expectation, a situation remains the same as before, or the speaker considers different possibilities and still returns to the original judgment. These English translations may look very different, but there is usually an already existing point of comparison in the sentence, and the current result simply lines up with it again.
For example, 「역시 맛있어요」 is used after tasting something and finding that it matches what you expected, so it can mean “It’s delicious, just as expected.” 「이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요」, on the other hand, places this menu item alongside other dishes mentioned earlier, so it means “This menu item is popular too.” If you are trying something for the first time and simply want to say that it is really delicious, with no prior expectation or comparison in the background, 「정말 맛있어요」 is usually more direct.
Where Does Korean 「역시」 Usually Appear? Nuance at the Beginning of a Sentence, After a Noun, and in Evaluative Statements
The position of 「역시」 can influence which nuance is easiest to infer, but position alone cannot determine its meaning. At the beginning of a sentence, it often appears when the speaker sees a result and says that it matches what they originally thought. After a noun, it often creates the meaning “this person or thing is the same as the previous one too.” In statements about a person, status, or ability, it can also express an evaluation such as “as expected” or “as you’d expect from….”
For example, 「역시 비가 오네요」 confirms that the weather matches an earlier expectation. 「이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요」 means that this menu item, like the one mentioned earlier, is also popular. 「역시 전문가네요」 can mean either “You really are an expert” or “As expected from an expert,” depending on the context. Position can therefore help narrow down the possibilities, but you still need to look at what information has already appeared and what the current sentence is being compared with.
| Common structure and nuance | ||
| 역시 + full sentence | as expected, after thinking it over, still | 역시 비가 오네요. |
| noun + 역시 | that person or thing too | 이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요. |
| 역시 + noun이다 | as expected, as you’d expect from | 역시 전문가네요. |
| time expression + 도 + 역시 | still, again, as usual | 이번에도 역시 같아요. |
Usage ① of 「역시」｜A Result Matches Expectations: “As Expected”
If there was already a prediction, rumor, or past experience before something happened, and the actual result turns out the same way, 「역시」 can be used. This “as expected” meaning can apply to positive results, but also to disappointment or resignation. What matters is not whether the result is good, but whether the original expectation has been confirmed.
- Example: 역시 비가 오네요.
Romanization: yeok-si bi-ga o-ne-yo.
Translation: It’s raining, just as expected.
The speaker may have seen the weather forecast or dark clouds beforehand and is now confirming that the expectation was correct. - Example: 역시 그 소문은 사실이었어요.
Romanization: yeok-si geu so-mu-neun sa-sil-i-eo-sseo-yo.
Translation: That rumor really was true, just as expected.
The speaker already had some suspicion and reaches the same conclusion after confirming the facts. - Example: 역시 이 식당은 사람이 많네요.
Romanization: yeok-si i sik-dang-eun sa-ra-mi man-ne-yo.
Translation: This restaurant really is crowded, just as expected.
The restaurant already had a reputation for being popular, and the speaker sees a crowd after arriving.
Usage ② of 「역시」｜Praising Someone for Meeting Expectations: “As You’d Expect From…”
When someone’s performance matches their ability, status, or usual standard, 「역시」 can naturally express praise similar to “as you’d expect from…” or “that’s just like….” The title or role does not always need to be stated. 「역시 민지 씨예요」 can also imply “That’s Minji for you” or “As expected from Minji,” meaning that her performance matched expectations. Whether the praise is sincere still depends on tone and context, and the same form can also become ironic.
- Example: 역시 전문가네요.
Romanization: yeok-si jeon-mun-ga-ne-yo.
Translation: As expected from an expert.
After the other person demonstrates professional judgment, the speaker confirms their prior expectations about that person’s ability. - Example: 이 어려운 문제도 풀다니, 역시 민지 씨예요.
Romanization: i eo-ryeo-un mun-je-do pul-da-ni, yeok-si min-ji ssi-ye-yo.
Translation: You even solved such a difficult problem.
That’s Minji for you.
「-다니」 expresses surprise or admiration at the result, while 「역시」 follows with an evaluation that it fits the speaker’s expectations. - Example: 역시 경험이 많아서 다르네요.
Romanization: yeok-si gyeong-heom-i ma-na-seo da-reu-ne-yo.
Translation: You can really tell the difference when someone has that much experience.
The praise focuses on the difference created by experience, rather than simply saying that someone is “really impressive.”
Usage ③ of 「역시」｜Meaning “Too” or “Likewise”
「역시」 can also be used without surprise, simply to show that one person or thing has the same property as something mentioned earlier. In this use, it often appears after a noun and functions similarly to 「또한」. It can be used in both speech and writing, though if the sentence is only adding neutral information, 「또한」 usually has a stronger written or formal tone.
- Example: 이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요.
Romanization: i me-nyu yeok-si in-gi-ga ma-na-yo.
Translation: This menu item is popular too.
Another popular dish has already been mentioned, and this sentence adds that the same is true of this one. - Example: 가격도 올랐고 배달비 역시 올랐어요.
Romanization: ga-gyeok-do ol-lat-go bae-dal-bi yeok-si ol-lat-seo-yo.
Translation: Prices went up, and the delivery fee went up too.
「배달비 역시」 adds the delivery fee to the same comparison involving price increases. - Example: 민수 씨도 반대했고 지수 씨 역시 반대했어요.
Romanization: min-su ssi-do ban-dae-haet-go ji-su ssi yeok-si ban-dae-haet-seo-yo.
Translation: Minsu opposed it, and Jisu opposed it as well.
The two people share the same position. Here, 「역시」 does not necessarily mean “as expected.”
Usage ④ of 「역시」｜Meaning “Still” or “After Thinking It Over, Still”
When a situation has not changed from before, 「역시」 can mean “still,” “again,” or “as usual.” It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence after repeated consideration, meaning “after thinking it over, I still….” One use compares the present situation with the past, while the other compares the speaker’s present conclusion with an earlier judgment. English often handles both with “still,” “after all,” or “I still think….”
- Example: 이번에도 역시 같은 결과가 나왔어요.
Romanization: i-beon-e-do yeok-si ga-teun gyeol-gwa-ga na-wat-seo-yo.
Translation: The same result came out again this time.
「이번에도」 places this occasion alongside previous ones. - Example: 아무리 생각해도 역시 직접 가는 게 좋겠어요.
Romanization: a-mu-ri saeng-gak-hae-do yeok-si jik-jeop ga-neun ge jo-ket-seo-yo.
Translation: No matter how much I think about it, I still think it would be better to go in person.
After considering the matter repeatedly, the speaker returns to the same conclusion and reaffirms the judgment. - Example: 역시 이 방법밖에 없어요.
Romanization: yeok-si i bang-beop-ba-kke eop-seo-yo.
Translation: After thinking it over, this really is the only option.
Sentence-initial 「역시」 shows that other possibilities have been considered, but the speaker still returns to the original choice.
What Is the Difference Between 「역시」「과연」「정말」「또한」?
「역시」「과연」「정말」「또한」 can all appear in sentences that might be translated into Chinese as “果然,” “真的,” or “也,” but they focus on different things. 「역시」 usually refers back to an existing expectation, comparison target, or past state. 「과연」 carries a sense of checking whether something really matches what was originally thought, and it also often appears in questions such as “Will it really…?” before the answer is known. 「정말」 simply emphasizes that something is truly the case, even when there was no prior expectation at all. 「또한」 adds another item once one piece of information has already been given. Although both 「역시」 and 「또한」 can be translated as “too,” 「역시」 often carries a sense of “this is the same as the previous one,” whereas 「또한」 is more about simply adding another piece of information. They cannot be interchanged merely because the English or Chinese translation looks similar.
| Comparison item | 「역시」 | 「과연」 | 「정말」 | 「또한」 |
| Main meaning | A result, person, or state matches an existing reference point | Checks whether something really matches what was expected | Emphasizes that something is true or strongly felt | Adds another similar or related item |
| What usually comes before it | An expectation, past experience, comparison target, or earlier judgment | An expectation, rumor, or question | No prior context is necessarily required | Another item has already been mentioned |
| Typical feel | “Just as I thought,” “this one is the same too” | “It really is so,” “will it actually be so?” | “Really…,” “truly…” | “This too,” “also,” “in addition” |
| Common English equivalents | as expected, as you’d expect from, too, still | indeed, really, whether…really | really, truly, very | also, too, in addition |
| Common contexts | Matching expectations, matching a previous item, unchanged situations, returning to the same judgment | Verifying an earlier expectation or asking about an uncertain outcome | Simply strengthening an evaluation, feeling, or fact | Listing information or adding another item |
| Requires an existing reference point? | Usually yes | Usually involves an expectation or question | No | Requires preceding parallel content |
| Spoken feel | Very common in everyday conversation | Slightly more evaluative or confirmatory than 「역시」 | Very common in everyday conversation | More common in writing, explanation, or formal expression |
▌「역시」 vs 「과연」｜Matching an Earlier Expectation vs Checking Whether the Result Really Is So
Both 「역시」 and 「과연」 relate to an earlier idea, but they are often used at different points in time. 「역시」 commonly appears after the result has already become visible and means that things turned out as expected. 「과연」 can also be used after a result appears to say that something really was as expected, but it is also very common in questions that ask whether the final outcome will actually match the prediction. Put simply, 「역시」 is often used after you have seen the answer and say “just as I thought,” while 「과연」 can also be used before the answer is known to ask “will it really turn out that way?”
- Example: 역시 그 소문은 사실이었어요.
Romanization: yeok-si geu so-mu-neun sa-sil-i-eo-sseo-yo.
Translation: That rumor really was true, just as expected.
The matter has already been confirmed, and the result matches the speaker’s earlier suspicion, so 「역시」 is used. - Example: 과연 그 소문은 사실일까요?
Romanization: gwa-yeon geu so-mu-neun sa-sil-il-kka-yo?
Translation: Is that rumor really true?
The answer is not yet known. 「과연」 places the focus on whether the final answer will actually turn out that way. This cannot simply be changed to 「역시」, because 「역시」 usually implies that a result has already matched an earlier expectation.
▌「정말」 vs 「역시」｜Simple Emphasis vs Matching an Earlier Expectation
Both 「정말」 and 「역시」 often appear in praise, exclamations, and evaluations, but 「정말」 does not require any prior background. If you simply find something delicious, beautiful, or interesting, you can use it directly. 「역시」 adds another layer: you already expected something like this. If you watch a movie for the first time and simply think it is entertaining, you can say 「정말 재미있어요」. If you had already heard many positive reviews before watching it and then found it just as good as expected, 「역시」 fits well.
- Example: 이 영화는 정말 재미있어요.
Romanization: i yeong-hwa-neun jeong-mal jae-mi-i-sseo-yo.
Translation: This movie is really interesting.
「정말」 directly intensifies the evaluation 「재미있다」. You can say this even if you knew nothing about the movie’s reputation beforehand. - Example: 역시 이 영화는 재미있네요.
Romanization: yeok-si i yeong-hwa-neun jae-mi-in-ne-yo.
Translation: This movie really is interesting, just as expected.
Before watching it, the speaker had already heard recommendations or knew that the movie had a good reputation. After watching it, the experience matched those expectations, so 「역시」 is used. If there had been no prior expectation at all, suddenly adding 「역시」 would sound as though some unstated background were missing.
▌「역시」 vs 「또한」｜The Same as Before vs Adding Another Similar Item
Both 「역시」 and 「또한」 can correspond to “too” or “also,” and in some sentences where two people or things share the same situation, either may be possible. However, 「역시」 more easily creates the sense of “this one is the same too” or “as expected, this one is also like that.” 「또한」 mainly serves to add another person, thing, or piece of information. Its tone is flatter and it often appears in explanatory or written language. If you are simply listing two people who hold the same position, 「또한」 is natural. If the speaker also feels “this person, as expected, is the same,” 「역시」 is closer to that nuance.
- Example: 민수 씨도 반대했고 지수 씨 역시 반대했어요.
Romanization: min-su ssi-do ban-dae-haet-go ji-su ssi yeok-si ban-dae-hae-sseo-yo.
Translation: Minsu opposed it, and Jisu opposed it as well.
The first part has already established Minsu’s position, and the second says that Jisu holds the same view. 「역시」 places the two positions side by side and can carry the sense that “Jisu was the same too.” - Example: 민수 씨도 반대했고 지수 씨 또한 반대했어요.
Romanization: min-su ssi-do ban-dae-haet-go ji-su ssi tto-han ban-dae-hae-sseo-yo.
Translation: Minsu opposed it, and Jisu also opposed it.
「또한」 simply adds another person with the same position. Compared with the previous sentence, there is less suggestion of “this person turned out to be the same too,” and the sentence feels slightly more explanatory.
▌How Do 「역시／과연／정말／또한」 Change the Nuance in the Same Restaurant Situation?
Suppose a restaurant is well known, and you have heard many positive reviews before going. After actually eating there, you want to say that the restaurant is good. The four adverbs focus on different things in this situation. 「역시」 compares the actual result with the prior expectation. 「과연」 can also confirm the restaurant’s reputation, but it sounds more like “after actually checking, it really was so.” 「정말」 simply strengthens the judgment that the food is good and does not require any prior background. 「또한」 cannot by itself express “as expected” in a sentence meaning only “this restaurant is good”; it needs some earlier information so that another matching item can be added.
- Example: 역시 이 식당은 맛있네요.
Romanization: yeok-si i sik-dang-eun ma-sin-ne-yo.
Translation: This restaurant really is delicious, just as expected.
The speaker had already heard recommendations or knew the restaurant had a good reputation before eating there, and the actual experience matched that expectation. 「역시」 carries the background sense that “I already thought it would be like this.” - Example: 과연 소문대로 이 식당은 맛있네요.
Romanization: gwa-yeon so-mun-dae-ro i sik-dang-eun ma-sin-ne-yo.
Translation: This restaurant really is as good as the rumors said.
「과연」 also confirms an earlier reputation, but together with 「소문대로」 it sounds more like the speaker has actually verified that the rumor was correct. Compared with 「역시」, there is slightly more of a sense of evaluation or confirmation. The National Institute of Korean Language also describes one use of 「과연」 as a situation in which reality matches what was previously thought. - Example: 이 식당은 정말 맛있네요.
Romanization: i sik-dang-eun jeong-mal ma-sin-ne-yo.
Translation: This restaurant is really delicious.
This sentence only intensifies 「맛있다」. You can say it even if you had never heard of the restaurant before. Even if you happened to have expectations beforehand, 「정말」 itself does not express that the result matched those expectations. - Example: 이 식당은 음식이 맛있고 서비스 또한 좋아요.
Romanization: i sik-dang-eun eum-si-gi ma-sit-go seo-bi-seu tto-han jo-a-yo.
Translation: The food at this restaurant is delicious, and the service is also good.
「또한」 adds “the service is good” after the earlier point that “the food is delicious.” It does not necessarily mean that the speaker already knew the service would be good and then confirmed it. It simply adds another piece of information, so it cannot be treated as a direct substitute for 「역시」 in the sense of “as expected.” Official dictionaries also list uses of 「또한」 meaning “the same as another object” and “in addition to that.”
When these four sentences are placed side by side, the difference becomes quite concrete. If you had already heard that the restaurant was good and, after eating there, felt “it really is as expected,” 「역시」 is the most natural. If you want to emphasize that the reputation was actually verified, 「과연」 can be used. If you simply think the food is really good, 「정말」 is enough. If one advantage has already been mentioned and you want to add that another aspect is good too, that is where 「또한」 comes in.
Common Mistakes with Korean 「역시」: Do Not Translate It as “As Expected” When There Is No Reference Point
「역시」 does not inherently carry a positive or complimentary meaning. Its main function is simply to show that the current situation matches an earlier expectation, experience, or past state. If you already thought something probably would not work and it really fails, you can still say 「역시 안 되네요」. If someone is often late and is late again today, 「오늘도 역시 늦었어요」 is also natural. In these cases, 「역시」 is not praise; it is more like “just as expected, this happened again,” and depending on the situation it may even carry disappointment, frustration, or resignation.
- Example: 역시 안 되네요.
Romanization: yeok-si an doe-ne-yo.
Translation: As expected, it still doesn’t work.
The speaker already thought it might not work, and after trying, the result confirms that expectation. 「역시」 only shows that the result matches the earlier prediction; it does not mean the speaker is pleased about it. - Example: 오늘도 역시 늦었어요.
Romanization: o-neul-do yeok-si neu-jeo-sseo-yo.
Translation: They were late again today, just as expected.
The person has been late before, and the same thing happened again today. 「오늘도」 already compares today with the past, and 「역시」 adds the sense that things turned out the same again.
Another common problem is switching 「과연」 and 「역시」 simply because both may be translated into Chinese with words such as “果然” or “究竟.” 「과연 성공할까요?」 asks “Will it really succeed?” before the result is known. 「역시 성공했어요」 means that success has already happened and that the result matches what was expected. Both sentences are about success, but one is still waiting for an answer while the other already has one. You therefore cannot choose between them based only on the translated wording.
- Example: 과연 성공할까요?
Romanization: gwa-yeon seong-gong-hal-kka-yo?
Translation: Will it really succeed?
There is no result yet. 「과연」 focuses on what the final answer will turn out to be. This kind of question, where the outcome is still uncertain, cannot simply be changed to 「역시」. - Example: 역시 성공했어요.
Romanization: yeok-si seong-gong-hae-sseo-yo.
Translation: It succeeded, just as expected.
Success is already a confirmed result, and it matches the earlier expectation, so 「역시」 is used here.
If you simply want to say “really beautiful,” “really tired,” or “really delicious,” and there is no prior expectation or comparison target, 「정말」 is usually more suitable. 「정말 맛있어요」 simply means “It’s really delicious.” 「역시 맛있어요」 adds a layer of background, as though you had already heard recommendations, eaten it before, or expected it to be good again this time. When interpreting 「역시」, look for something in the preceding context that can be compared with the current situation. If you cannot find anything, consider whether 「정말」 may actually be more appropriate.
How Is Korean 「역시」 Used in Everyday Conversation? Three Common Situations
In everyday conversation, 「역시」 often does not introduce completely new information on its own. Instead, it connects what is happening now with something the speakers already knew, thought, or experienced. If a restaurant recommended by a friend really is good, 「역시」 can express “just as expected.” If someone was already known to be very experienced and then performs well, 「역시」 can praise them with a meaning similar to “as you’d expect from….” If several options have been compared and the speaker finally returns to the original choice, 「역시」 can instead mean “after thinking it over, still….” This is why the surrounding context is usually more important than the adverb by itself.
Situation ①｜A Restaurant Recommended by a Friend Really Is Good
A：이 집 유명하다던데, 음식은 어때요?
i jip yu-myeong-ha-da-deon-de, eum-si-geun eo-ttae-yo?
I heard this place is famous. How’s the food?
B：역시 맛있네요. 사람들이 많이 오는 이유를 알겠어요.
yeok-si ma-sin-ne-yo. sa-ram-deu-ri ma-ni o-neun i-yu-reul al-get-seo-yo.
It really is delicious, just as expected. I can see why so many people come here.
📌 Grammar Point: The speaker had already heard about the restaurant’s reputation before eating there and then found that the actual experience matched those expectations, so 「역시」 is used. If you are trying a restaurant for the first time without knowing anything about its reputation and simply want to say “It’s really good,” 「정말 맛있네요」 is more suitable.
Situation ②｜An Experienced Friend Solves the Problem Very Quickly
A：민지 씨가 벌써 다 해결했대요.
min-ji ssi-ga beol-sseo da hae-gyeol-haet-dae-yo.
I heard Minji has already taken care of everything.
B：역시 경험이 많아서 다르네요. 정말 빠르네요.
yeok-si gyeong-heo-mi ma-na-seo da-reu-ne-yo. jeong-mal ppa-reu-ne-yo.
You can really tell she has a lot of experience. She’s really fast.
📌 Grammar Point: The speaker already knew that Minji had a lot of experience. After seeing how quickly she handled the issue, 「역시」 expresses the evaluation that her performance matches that existing impression. The following 「정말」 simply strengthens the impression that she is fast. Seeing both adverbs in the same dialogue makes the difference between them easier to notice.
Situation ③｜After Comparing Transportation Options, You Still Decide on the Subway
A：택시 타고 갈까요? 버스도 괜찮을 것 같아요.
taek-si ta-go gal-kka-yo? beo-seu-do gwaen-cha-neul geot ga-ta-yo.
Should we take a taxi? The bus seems fine too.
B：아무리 생각해도 역시 지하철로 가는 게 좋겠어요.
a-mu-ri saeng-gak-hae-do yeok-si ji-ha-cheol-lo ga-neun ge jo-ket-seo-yo.
No matter how much I think about it, I still think it would be better to take the subway.
📌 Grammar Point: Here, 「역시」 does not mean “as expected.” The speaker has compared other options such as a taxi and a bus, but ultimately returns to the option they were originally leaning toward. When it appears with 「아무리 생각해도」, it is often translated as “after thinking it over, still…” or “no matter how much I think about it, I still….”
Cultural Notes:
- 「역시 + name/title」 is a common pattern for praise. It does not need to be translated word for word as “as expected.” Depending on the situation, “as you’d expect from…” or “that’s just like…” may be more natural.
- 「역시」 depends on shared context. If both speakers already know the earlier reputation, record, or recommendation, this single adverb can bring that background back into the conversation.
- The same form can also be ironic. If someone makes the same mistake again, 「역시」 can be close to “There they go again, just as expected,” so tone and the following sentence matter.
How Does Korean 「역시」 Compare with Japanese 「やはり／やっぱり」?
◆ Similar usage: Japanese 「やはり／やっぱり」
Japanese 「やはり／やっぱり」 overlaps with Korean 「역시」 in many ways. If something you expected to happen actually happens, both can express “as expected.” If the situation has not changed from before, they can mean “still” or “as usual.” If you compare several options and eventually return to your original idea, they can also express “after thinking it over, still….” In these situations, Korean often has a very close equivalent in 「역시」.
「やはり」 and 「やっぱり」 have essentially the same meaning, with the main difference being how they are used in speech. 「やっぱり」 is heard more often in everyday conversation and sounds more clearly conversational. 「やはり」 is calmer and appears not only in conversation but also in writing, explanations, and somewhat more formal situations. So if you want to say “This place is still the best after all,” 「やっぱりこの店がいい」 sounds natural when talking with friends, while 「やはり」 is more likely to appear in a more formal explanation.
- Example: やはりこの店は人気がありますね。
Kana: やはりこのみせはにんきがありますね。
Translation: This place really is popular, just as expected.
The speaker had already heard that the place was popular, and after arriving, the actual situation matches that impression. Here, 「やはり」 is close to 「역시 이 식당은 인기가 많네요」, with both confirming an earlier expectation. - Example: 今日もやっぱり混んでいますね。
Kana: きょうもやっぱりこんでいますね。
Translation: It’s crowded again today, just as usual.
The speaker already knew that this place is often crowded, and today the situation has not changed. Here, 「やっぱり」 is close to Korean 「오늘도 역시 사람이 많네요」, and both can express the sense that “today is the same as before.” - Example: 何度考えても、やっぱり電車で行くことにします。
Kana: なんどかんがえても、やっぱりでんしゃでいくことにします。
Translation: No matter how much I think about it, I’ve decided to take the train after all.
The speaker may have considered driving, taking a bus, or other options, but ultimately returns to the choice they originally preferred. This use of “after thinking it over, still…” is very close to 「아무리 생각해도 역시 전철로 가는 게 좋겠어요」.
◆ Difference from 「역시」:
Although 「역시」 and 「やはり／やっぱり」 are similar when they mean “as expected,” “still the same,” or “after thinking it over, still,” you cannot automatically replace every 「역시」 with 「やはり」. When 「역시」 appears after a noun, it can mean that “this person or thing is also the same.” For example, 「지수 씨 역시 반대했어요」 means “Jisu opposed it too.” In Japanese, when you are simply adding another person to the same situation, you would normally use the particle 「も」 and say 「ジスさんも反対しました」, rather than deliberately adding 「やはり」.
Another difference appears in praise. Depending on the context, 「역시 전문가네요」 can carry either the sense “You really are an expert” or “As expected from an expert.” But if you specifically want to praise someone with the meaning “as you’d expect from an expert,” Japanese 「さすが専門家ですね」 is usually closer. 「やはり専門家ですね」 sounds more like the speaker has confirmed, after seeing something, that the person really is an expert. The focus is on an earlier judgment being confirmed. A single Korean 「역시」 can sometimes cover both of these nuances, while Japanese requires you to look more closely at whether the speaker is confirming an earlier judgment or praising the person’s performance.
Korean 「역시」 can seem to have many different meanings mainly because the translation changes each time. 「역시 비가 오네요」 means that the weather matches what was expected, so it becomes “It’s raining, just as expected.” 「이 메뉴 역시 인기가 많아요」 places this menu item alongside another dish mentioned earlier, so it means “This menu item is popular too.” 「역시 전문가네요」 reflects expectations about someone’s ability or status and can mean “As expected from an expert.” In 「아무리 생각해도 역시……」, the speaker has considered other possibilities but still returns to the original idea.
When these sentences are viewed together, 「역시」 is actually doing the same basic thing each time: the current situation does not stray far from a reference point that already existed. That reference point might be a weather forecast, a friend’s recommendation, someone’s past performance, or simply another item mentioned in the previous sentence. English needs to choose different expressions according to context, such as “as expected,” “too,” “as you’d expect from,” “still,” or “after all.” There is no need to force one English word to cover every instance of 「역시」.
The next time you see 「역시」, look for the comparison hidden in the preceding context. Was there already an expectation? Was a similar situation mentioned earlier? Is this situation the same as before? Or did the speaker consider other options and then return to the original decision? Once you identify that background, it becomes much easier to decide how 「역시」 should be translated, and you are less likely to read every instance as simply “as expected.”
FAQs
「역시」 shows that the current result matches an expectation, comparison target, past state, or earlier judgment. Depending on context, it can mean “as expected,” “as you’d expect from,” “too,” “likewise,” “still,” or “after thinking it over, still.”
Both can relate to results matching expectations, but 「과연」 also commonly appears in questions meaning “will it really…?” When the result is still unknown, you can ask 「과연 성공할까요」. When the result has already matched expectations, you can say 「역시 성공했어요」.
「역시」 usually requires a prior expectation or comparison point, while 「정말」 simply emphasizes truth or degree. 「역시 맛있어요」 means “It’s delicious, just as expected,” while 「정말 맛있어요」 means “It’s really delicious.”
You can use the pattern 「역시 + person/title」, such as 「역시 전문가네요」. It means that the person’s performance matches expectations based on their expertise, and can naturally be understood as “As expected from an expert.”
Yes. 「역시」 only means that something matches expectations; the result does not have to be positive. 「역시 안 되네요」 can mean “As expected, it still doesn’t work,” while 「오늘도 역시 늦었어요」 means that someone was late again today, just as expected.