とりあえず (toriaezu) means “for now” or “first of all.” It marks an immediate step while later decisions remain open. とりあえずビール is a familiar way to order beer before deciding on food. まず simply marks a first step and does not itself imply a temporary decision.
also toriaezu / 取り敢えず / とりあえずビール
for now · first thing · in the meantime
Sentences
とりあえずビール
plain。
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とりあえず
とりあえず
to start with
adverb standing in front of a bare noun · no verb needed
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ビール
ビール ［1］
beer
loanword noun · とりあえず生 is the draught version of the same line
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Beers to start.
とりあえず ＋ 意向形
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とりあえず
とりあえず
for now
adverb · marks the attempt as a starting point, not a plan
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やって
やって
do it and
て-form of やる · the casual counterpart of する
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みよう
みよう
let's try
volitional of みる · てみる, attempt and see
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Let's just give it a go for now.
とりあえず、これで
polite、。
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とりあえず
とりあえず
for the moment
adverb in front of the clause · leaves the decision reopenable
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これ
これ
this
pronoun · the thing in front of you both
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で
で
with this; as it stands
particle · で marks what will serve, hence 'this will do'
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大丈夫
だいじょうぶ ［3］
fine; no problem
な-adjective · fine, safe, or 'no thanks' depending on context
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です
です
(polite ending)
copula · politeness on a な-adjective standing as the whole verdict
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This should hold us for the moment.
とりあえず〜ておく
polite。
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とりあえず
とりあえず
in the meantime
adverb · this is the interim move, not the finished one
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連絡
れんらく ［0］
contact
noun · takes する; the general word for getting in touch
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して
して
do; doing
て-form of する · the hinge between 連絡 and おきます
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おきます
おきます
will do ahead of time
polite ておく · handled in advance so it is not hanging
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I'll drop them a line in the meantime.
とりあえず ＋ 命令的な依頼
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とりあえず
とりあえず
for now
adverb · softens an instruction by making it provisional
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座って
すわって
sit down
て-form as a casual request · 座ってください with the ください dropped
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Have a seat for now.
とりあえず ＋ 区切り
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とりあえず
とりあえず
for now
adverb · stops the work without declaring it finished
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今日
きょう ［1］
today
noun · read きょう here, not こんにち
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は
は
as for — the topic
particle · written は, read わ
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ここまで
ここまで
up to here
ここ ＋ まで · marks the stopping point, verb omitted
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Let's leave it there for today.
Forms
とりあえず＋ビール / これ
とりあえずビール. No verb at all — the adverb plus a noun is a complete, idiomatic order.
とりあえず＋やってみよう
とりあえずやってみよう. In front of a volitional it means let us start and work the rest out later.
とりあえず＋これで大丈夫
Closing something provisionally. This will do for the moment, and we can revisit it.
とりあえず＋今日はここまで
Calling a stop without calling it finished — the standard way to end a meeting or a work session.
Meaning
とりあえず is about time: this is what happens now, and the real decision comes later. It leaves the question open on purpose, which is exactly why it is so useful in a language that dislikes closing things early.
まず is the same slot without the hedge. まず資料を読みます is step one of a plan you have. とりあえず資料を読みます can suggest that you are choosing an immediate first step and reading seemed like a start. In a report to a client, まず is the one that sounds organised.
一応 is about degree, not time — done, but only just. The two get taught together and are genuinely close: とりあえず送っておきました means I have sent it, more to follow; 一応送っておきました means I have sent it, do not expect much of it.
It softens a decision you are making for other people. とりあえず座って, sit down for now; とりあえずこれで, let us go with this for the moment. The adverb says the choice is reversible, which lets you decide something without appearing to have decided it.
Inside the word
The kanji spelling 取り敢えず is 取る, to take up, plus the old negative of 敢える, to manage or dare. Literally: without even managing to take hold of things. The modern sense — acting before you are ready — is right there in the parts.
The full classical phrase 取るものも取りあえず means without even grabbing what you would normally grab — rushing out of the house empty-handed. It is still used in writing, and it is the clearest window onto where the adverb came from.
Ordering a first round before anyone reads the menu solves a real problem: nobody has to decide anything, and the table gets moving. The phrase is common enough to be a cliché people joke about, and とりあえず生 — draught — is the same move one word shorter.
Watch out
In a proposal or a report, とりあえず tells the reader you are choosing an immediate first step. まず tells them step one of a plan you do have. The difference is small in speech and large on paper.
とりあえず送りました — sent it, more to come. 一応送りました — sent it, but do not expect much. One is about sequence, the other about quality, and swapping them changes what you have admitted to.
The word promises the decision can be revisited. とりあえず契約しておきます — I'll sign the contract for now — is a contradiction, and it reads as either careless or as a joke. Reserve it for moves you can actually undo.
Also asked
For now, first of all, in the meantime. It marks the next move as provisional — something happens immediately and the real decision is deferred. Its usefulness is precisely that it leaves the question open.
The standard opening order at a Japanese pub: beers first, food once we've looked. It is close to a ritual, common enough that people joke about it, and とりあえず生 — draught for now — is the shorter version.
とりあえず is about sequence: done for now, more to come. 一応 is about degree: done, but lightly. Attached to the same sentence they admit to different things.
まず is step one of a plan you have. とりあえず leaves later decisions open while starting anyway. In writing, まず is almost always the better choice.
In speech it is completely normal in a Japanese office, including with a manager — とりあえず、確認しておきます. In written deliverables it is worth swapping for まず or 現時点では, which do not advertise the missing plan.
取り敢えず — 取る, to take up, plus the classical negative of 敢える, to manage. Without even managing to take hold of things. The older phrase 取るものも取りあえず, rushing out empty-handed, is still in use and shows the origin plainly.
References
Kotobank: 取り敢えず — Defines doing the first thing while setting other matters aside.
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