“itsumo no・rei no”: The Usual / That (Known) One [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Set phrases referring to a fixed pattern or shared knowledge

「いつものセットで」 — 「いつもの・例の」, “the usual, the one you know”

A regular walks into a café and just says 「いつものでお願いします」 (the usual, please) — 「いつもの」「例の」 are prenominal words for referring to people or things both parties already have in mind: いつもの = “the usual, the same as always” (a habit, a fixed thing); 例の = “that one (we mentioned before)” (an unspoken understanding). This guide covers 「いつもの／例の」's use, that “no need to spell it out” rapport, and separates them from 「その／あの」.

Core: no need to spell it out — “the one you know”

The core of 「いつもの・例の」 is “shared, already-known information” — both parties know what's meant, no need to detail it:

• いつもの = “the same as always, the usual” (the habitual, fixed one): いつもの店で会おう (let's meet at the usual place).
• 例の = “that one (we mentioned before)” (unspoken, with rapport): 例の件、どうなった？ (how did that matter turn out?).

Feel: “the one you know” — economical, with rapport.

How to Connect

Examples in use

• 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.) — habit
• 店員に聞かれ、「いつものセットでお願いします」と答えた。(Asked by the clerk, I answered, “the usual set, please.”) — rapport
• 例の件、その後どうなりましたか。(That matter — how did it go afterward?) — unspoken
• あれが噂の例の人か。(So that's the one everyone's talking about.) — that one (known)
• いつものように、朝6時に起きて散歩した。(As always, I got up at 6 and took a walk.) — as always

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Can't refer to a first-time or unknown thing. いつもの・例の refer to something both parties already know, a customary thing: ✗ いつもの初めて会う人 (meeting for the first time yet using いつもの — contradictory), ✗ 例の知らない店 (a shop you don't know yet using 例の). Their premise is “the one you know.”

② 「いつも」 (adverb, always) vs 「いつもの」 (prenominal, the usual). English “usually, always” maps to both the adverb 「いつも」 and the prenominal 「いつもの」, and it's easy to drop the 「の」: いつも = adverb “always” (いつも遅れる = always late, modifying a verb); いつもの = prenominal “the usual” (いつもの店 = the usual shop, modifying a noun). To modify a noun you must add 「の」.

③ 「例の」 is colloquial, conversational. 「例の」 is essentially a colloquial, conversational expression, carrying “you and I both get it” rapport, mostly between people who know each other (例の件 = that matter). Formal writing rarely uses 「例の」, switching to 「先日の件／当該の…」. 「いつもの」, by contrast, works in both speech and writing.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: いつもの／例の／その／あの

💡 How to remember this

「いつもの・例の」 are handy everyday words that are economical and full of rapport, at their core “no need to spell it out — the one you know” (shared, known info): いつもの = the usual, same-as-always one (いつもの店で = at the usual place, いつものセット = the usual set), for the regular spot or your usual order; 例の = the one we mentioned before, the unspoken one (例の件 = that matter, 例の人 = that person), handy for a sensitive or already-known thing. Two points: ① they can only refer to a known, customary thing (not a first-time, unknown one); ② to modify a noun, add 「の」 (adverb いつも vs prenominal いつもの). Also, 「例の」 is more colloquial/conversational, rare in formal writing. To say “the usual, that one” with rapport, these two are spot-on.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「いつもの」 from 「例の」?

By “habit, fixed” vs “mentioned before, unspoken.” 「いつもの」 = the usual, the same-as-always (habitual, fixed, the one that's the same every time): いつものカフェで待ってる (I'll wait at the usual café — a fixed place), いつもの時間に集合 (meet at the usual time — a habit), 「いつものでいいですか？」 (the usual, all right? — your regular order). It stresses “as always, fixed.” 「例の」 = that one (we talked about before), the unspoken one (with rapport, often for something not easily named or already known): 例の件、進んでる？ (is that matter progressing? — the thing we mentioned), 例の人から連絡があった (that person contacted me — you know the one). It stresses “we both know which one, no need to say.” So: “the usual, fixed one” → いつもの; “the mentioned-before, unspoken one” → 例の. One is “habit,” the other “rapport.”

Q: What's the difference between 「いつも」 and 「いつもの」? (one の apart)

By word class and what it modifies. 「いつも」 = adverb “always, usually” (modifies verbs, adjectives): 彼はいつも遅刻する (he's always late — modifying the verb 遅刻する), いつも元気だね (you're always cheerful — modifying an adjective), いつもありがとう (thanks as always). 「いつもの」 = prenominal “the usual, same-as-always” (modifies nouns): いつもの店 (the usual shop), いつものメンバー (the usual members), いつもの通り (as usual). So: modifying an action (always do…) → いつも (adverb); modifying a noun (the usual…) → いつもの (prenominal, add の). English “usual(ly)” maps to both, but in Japanese check whether a verb or a noun follows: before a noun you must add 「の」 (✗ いつも店 → ✓ いつもの店).

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「___喫茶店で会いましょう。」(at our usual café)

(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?」(that matter both parties know about)

(A) 例の　(B) いつもの　(C) どの　(D) なんの

Q3. 「例の人」の意味は?

(A) That person both sides tacitly know about

(B) Anyone

(C) Someone mentioned for the first time

(D) A nonexistent person

Q4. 「いつものように」の意味は?

(A) As always

(B) Occasionally

(C) Deliberately

(D) For the first time

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。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) いつもの ── Our usual place.

2. (A) 例の ── That matter both parties know about.

3. (A) ── That person tacitly understood by both.

4. (A) ── As always.

5. (A) ── 「いつものメンバー」 (the usual members) is natural; the others are contradictory.