ちょうど details
exactly + write + (past)
choudo kaita
exactly; just — a figure with nothing over, or a moment that coincides with another
meaning: have just written
時計を見たら、ちょうど十二時だった。
tokei o mitara, choudo juuniji datta.
When I looked at the clock it was exactly twelve. neutral
バスなら、ちょうど行ったところだよ。
basu nara, choudo itta tokoro da yo.
If it's the bus you want, it has just gone. casual
- た-form
- number + counter
- i-adjective
Examples
exactly — the amount, time or size comes out with nothing over and nothing short
時計を見たら、ちょうど十二時だった。
tokei o mitara, choudo juuniji datta.
When I looked at the clock it was exactly twelve. neutral
お会計は、ちょうど三千円でございます。
o kaikei wa, choudo sanzen'en de gozaimasu.
Your bill comes to exactly three thousand yen. formal
この靴、私にはちょうどいい。
kono kutsu, watashi ni wa choudo ii.
These shoes are just right for me. casual
just then; just now — the act lands at the very moment something else does
バスなら、ちょうど行ったところだよ。
basu nara, choudoitta tokoro da yo.
If it's the bus you want, it has just gone. casual
お電話しようとしていたところに、ちょうどご連絡をいただきました。
o denwa shiyou to shite ita tokoro ni, choudo go renraku o itadakimashita.
I was just about to call you when your message arrived. formal
Formation
ちょうど{Q}attaches to number + counterちょうど{V-ta}attaches to た-formちょうど{I}attaches to i-adjective
Related patterns
Similar
The two ends of one scale of precision — だいたい三時 rounds and invites no checking, ちょうど三時 claims the figure is exact and can be contradicted by a clock.
Lookalikes
One mora apart and opposite jobs after a quantity — 五分ちょうど means five minutes and not a second more, 五分ちょっと means five minutes and a bit; and only ちょっと works as the all-purpose softener of speech.
Combines with
ところだ marks the stage the act is at and ちょうど pins that stage to this instant, so ちょうど帰るところだ is the everyday pairing — without ちょうど the coincidence is left unstated.