- Degree: とても (very), すごく (really, casual), ちょっと / すこし (a little).
- Frequency: いつも (always), よく (often), ときどき (sometimes).
- ぜんぜん (not at all) and あまり (not much) need a negative verb.
- もう = already / any more. まだ = still / not yet.
How much
- とてもtotemovery
- すごくsugokureally, super (casual)
- ちょっとchottoa little, a bit
- すこしsukoshia little (more formal)
- たくさんtakusana lot, many
- もっとmottomore
- いちばんichibanthe most, number one
- このラーメンはとてもおいしいですkono rāmen wa totemo oishii desuThis ramen is very tasty.
- もっとゆっくりはなしてくださいmotto yukkuri hanashite kudasaiPlease speak more slowly.
How often
- いつもitsumoalways
- よくyokuoften
- ときどきtokidokisometimes
- たまにtama nioccasionally
- まいにちmainichievery day
- ときどきカフェでべんきょうしますtokidoki kafe de benkyō shimasuI sometimes study at a café.
Adverbs that need a negative
These two only work with a negative verb or adjective:
- ぜんぜんわかりませんzenzen wakarimasenI don’t understand at all.
- あまりたべませんamari tabemasenI don’t eat much.
- あまりさむくないですamari samuku nai desuIt’s not very cold.
もう and まだ
| Positive verb | Negative verb | |
|---|---|---|
| もう | もうたべました I already ate | もうたべません I won’t eat any more |
| まだ | まだたべています I’m still eating | まだたべていません I haven’t eaten yet |
Other everyday adverbs
- すぐsuguright away, soon
- ゆっくりyukkurislowly, at leisure
- いっしょにissho nitogether
- たぶんtabunprobably
- きっとkittosurely, definitely
- ほんとうにhontō nireally, truly
Adjectives can become adverbs too: い → く (はやい → はやく, quickly), な → に (しずか → しずかに, quietly). See Japanese adjectives.
Where adverbs go in the sentence
Adverbs usually come right before the verb or adjective they modify, but they’re flexible as long as they stay before the end of the sentence:
- わたしはよくカフェにいきますwatashi wa yoku kafe ni ikimasuI often go to cafés.
- よくカフェにいきますyoku kafe ni ikimasuI often go to cafés. (subject dropped)
Time adverbs
- さっきsakkia moment ago
- あとでato delater
- いまimanow
- これからkorekarafrom now on, now (about to)
- さいきんsaikinrecently, lately
- そろそろsorosorosoon, it’s about timeそろそろかえります: I’ll be heading home soon.
The two meanings of よく
よく means often (よくいきます, I often go) and also well (よくできました, well done; よくわかりません, I don’t really understand). Context makes the meaning clear.
“I don’t understand at all.”
“I haven’t eaten yet.”
ときどき means:
Frequently asked questions
How do you say very in Japanese?
The most common word is とても (totemo). In casual speech, すごく (sugoku) and めっちゃ (meccha) are also used.
What is the difference between zenzen and amari?
Both are used with negatives. ぜんぜん means 'not at all', あまり means 'not much' or 'not very'.
What is the difference between mou and mada?
もう means 'already' (or 'any more' with a negative), and まだ means 'still' (or 'not yet' with a negative).
What does yoku mean in Japanese?
よく means 'often' (よく行きます, I often go) or 'well' (よくできました, well done), depending on context.