“itsumo no・rei no”: The Usual / That (Known) One [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Set phrases referring to a fixed pattern or shared knowledge
“itsumo no・rei no”: The Usual / That (Mutually Known) One
These prenominal words refer to a person or thing both speakers already know: いつもの = “the usual, the customary” (a routine, a fixed one): 「いつもの喫茶店で会おう」 (let's meet at the usual café); 例の（れいの） = “that (previously mentioned, mutually understood) one”: 「例の件はどうなった?」 (how did that matter go?). Both are followed by a noun.
🧠 Core nuance: “you know the one,” without spelling it out
The core is shared, known information: both speakers know what's meant, with no need to explain. いつもの stresses “as always, a fixed pattern” (the usual spot, the usual crew); 例の stresses “the one mentioned before, understood between us” (often with a hint of “best not said outright”). They make conversation concise and conspiratorial — only the two of you get it.
📌 How to Connect
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| いつもの ＋ noun | the usual, customary | いつもの店 |
| 例の ＋ noun | that (mutually known) one | 例の話 |
| いつものように | as always (adverb) | いつものように起きた |
💬 Example Sentences
- いつもの喫茶店で、いつものメンバーで集まろう。(Let's gather at the usual café with the usual crew.) — routine
- いつものように、彼は遅刻してきた。(As always, he showed up late.) — same old
- 「例の件、どうなった?」「ああ、あれね」。(“How did that matter go?” “Ah, that one.”) — tacit understanding
- 例の人から、また連絡が来た。(That person (you know who) contacted me again.) — best not named
- これが例の新商品です。(This is the new product (we mentioned).) — previously mentioned
🔄 Compare: いつもの vs 例の vs その vs あの
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| いつもの | “the usual, customary” (fixed pattern) | いつもの席 |
| 例の | “that (previously mentioned/tacit) one” | 例の問題 |
| その | “that” (just mentioned, neutral) | その本 |
| あの | “that” (distal / shared memory) | あの日 |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Referring to a first-time/unknown thing: ✗ いつもの初めて会う人／例の知らない店 → they refer to known, customary things, not first-time or unknown ones.
- Dropping the noun: いつもの・例の are prenominal; a noun must follow (いつものX, 例のX).
- The feel of 例の: it often implies “best not said outright / tacit,” odd in neutral formal statements.
- Adverb form: “as always” is いつものように, not just いつものに.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
いつもの・例の are handy words for concise, conspiratorial everyday talk: arranging the usual spot (いつもの店), referring to that matter (例の件) — no need to explain, the other person gets it. いつもの is for fixed routines, 例の for a specific thing understood between you (sometimes a bit veiled). They make conversation friendly and complicit. Note they only refer to known things. A must at N3.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N3: いつもの (routine) / 例の (the tacitly known one), followed by a noun.
- Distinction: いつもの (fixed/habitual) vs 例の (specific/known) vs その/あの (general demonstratives).
- They only refer to mutually known things — unnatural for first-time/unknown.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「___喫茶店で会いましょう。」（在平常那家咖啡店）
(A) いつもの (B) わざとの (C) せっかくの (D) もともとの
Q2. 「___件はどうなった?」（雙方都知道的「那件事」）
(A) 例の (B) いつもの (C) どの (D) なんの
Q3. 「例の人」の意味は?
(A) 雙方都心知肚明的「那個人」
(B) 任何人
(C) 第一次提到的人
(D) 不存在的人
Q4. 「いつものように」の意味は?
(A) 一如往常地
(B) 偶爾地
(C) 故意地
(D) 第一次
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) いつものメンバーで飲みに行く。 (B) いつもの初めて会う人。
(C) 例の、知らない店。 (D) いつものどこか分からない場所。
答案解析
1. (A) いつもの ── 平常那家店。
2. (A) 例の ── 雙方都知道的那件事。
3. (A) ── 心照不宣的「那個人」。
4. (A) ── 一如往常地。
5. (A) ── 「いつものメンバー」(平常的成員)自然;其餘矛盾。