Translation guide
The English adverb 'deliberately' means doing something on purpose, with intention, often after careful thought. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various adverbs, verb forms, and phrases that convey intentionality, carefulness, or purposefulness. The most common equivalent is わざと (wazato) for everyday intentional actions, but other options exist for formal, written, or nuanced contexts.
Express that an action was done intentionally, not by accident, often with a nuance of doing something one knows is wrong or unexpected.
The most common and versatile adverb for 'deliberately' in casual and neutral speech. It often implies the action was done knowingly, sometimes with a negative or mischievous connotation.
彼はわざと私を無視した。
He deliberately ignored me.
わざとじゃなかったんだ。
I didn't do it on purpose.
A more formal term, often used in legal or official contexts. It emphasizes intentionality without necessarily implying malice, but it can sound stiff in casual conversation.
彼は故意に法律を破った。
He deliberately broke the law.
Means 'intentionally' or 'purposefully', focusing on the presence of an intention. Slightly more formal than わざと, but common in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼女は意図的にその話題を避けた。
She deliberately avoided the topic.
Often translated as 'deliberately' but carries a nuance of going out of one's way to do something, sometimes with a sense of inconvenience or unnecessary effort. Not a direct synonym for all uses of 'deliberately'.
Use only when the action involves extra effort or trouble. Not for simple intentionality.
彼はわざわざ遠回りして家に帰った。
He deliberately took the long way home (going out of his way).
Express that an action is done slowly and with careful thought, emphasizing the manner rather than just the intentionality.
Means 'carefully' or 'cautiously'. It captures the 'deliberate' sense of taking one's time and being mindful.
彼は慎重に言葉を選んだ。
He deliberately chose his words.
Implies doing something thoroughly and without rushing, often used for thinking, considering, or examining.
その問題をじっくりと考えた。
I deliberately thought over the problem.
Means 'elaborately' or 'with great care', often used for preparations or work done meticulously.
彼は念入りに計画を練った。
He deliberately worked out the plan.
Emphasize that the person was fully aware of what they were doing, often in contexts of admitting or accusing.
Literally 'on top of knowing', meaning 'knowingly' or 'with full knowledge'. Common in formal apologies or accusations.
彼は危険を承知の上で、その仕事を引き受けた。
He deliberately took on the job, knowing the risks.
A more casual way to say 'knowingly'. Often used in spoken Japanese to accuse someone of doing something they knew was wrong.
分かっていてやったんだろう？
You did it deliberately, didn't you?
わざと is the most common and casual, often implying a bit of mischief or knowing wrongness. 故意に is formal and used in legal contexts, focusing on the act being intentional. 意図的に is neutral and simply states that there was an intention behind the action.
わざと負けたの？
Did you lose on purpose?
故意に証拠を隠滅した。
He deliberately destroyed the evidence.
意図的に情報を漏らした。
He deliberately leaked the information.
わざわざ means 'going out of one's way' or 'taking the trouble', not simply 'on purpose'. Using it where わざと is meant can sound unnatural.
わざわざ来てくれてありがとう。
Thank you for coming all this way (deliberately making the effort).
わざと来なかった。
He deliberately didn't come.