案の定|あんのじょうannojou[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. adverbas expected; just as one thought; as feared; sure enoughusu. in ref. to an undesirable outcome
   案の定あんのじょう、彼かれは疑念ぎねんを抱いだいていた。↗

   Sure enough, he entertained doubts.

• Synonym果たしてはたしてNeutralAlso means 'as expected', but unlike 「案の定」 it works in questions like 「果たして〜だろうか」 ('I wonder if…'); 「案の定」 usually flags a feared outcome coming true.
• SynonymやはりNeutralInterchangeable with 「案の定」 for 'as expected', but it also covers 'after all' and 'likewise'; 「案の定」 leans toward feared bad results coming true.
• SynonymやっぱりCasualColloquial form of 「矢張り」 with the same uses, common in daily conversation; 「案の定」 puts more weight on a predicted bad thing happening.
• Synonym果たせるかなはたせるかなWrittenWritten, old-fashioned way of saying exactly what 「案の定」 does; found mainly in prose. In everyday speech use 「案の定」 or 「やはり」.
• Synonym果然かぜんWrittenWritten word for 'as expected', close in sense to 「案の定」, but rarely used today; in daily speech say 「やはり」 or 「案の定」.
• SynonymさてこそWrittenOld-fashioned literary word: 'just as I thought', and it can also mean 'that's why'. Now very rare; in everyday use pick 「やはり」 or 「案の定」.
• SynonymやっぱしCasualAn even more casual, slangy form of 「やっぱり」, at home in chat and casual messages; 「案の定」 also suits formal writing and sounds more measured.
• Antonym案に相違NeutralThe opposite on whether a prediction holds: it says the result defied expectations, as in 「案に相違して」.

Use 「案の定」 when something you expected—often feared—happens, as in 「案の定遅刻した」. For a general 'as expected' say 「やはり」 or 「やっぱり」; for 'I wonder if…' questions use 「果たして」; for an unexpected outcome use 「案に相違」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 予想よそうした通とおり。