Translation guide
The English adverb "intensely" describes a high degree of strength, force, or concentration. In Japanese, it is expressed through various adverbs and adverbial phrases depending on the context: emotional intensity, physical force, concentration, or sensory vividness. Direct translation is often unnatural; choose the expression that matches the specific nuance.
To describe feeling or doing something with deep emotion, passion, or fervor.
General adverb for 'strongly' or 'intensely', used for emotions, desires, or sensations.
彼女を強く愛している。
I love her intensely.
強く望む。
I intensely desire it.
Implies violent or fierce intensity, often for emotions like anger, jealousy, or passion.
Means 'enthusiastically' or 'intensely' in the sense of passionate dedication, often for interests or pursuits.
彼は熱心に勉強している。
He studies intensely.
Conveys single-minded intensity, doing something with all one's heart or effort.
ひたすら祈った。
I prayed intensely.
To describe an action done with extreme physical intensity, such as hitting, shaking, or burning.
The most common word for physical intensity: violent, fierce, or severe.
雨が激しく降っている。
It's raining intensely.
彼はドアを激しく叩いた。
He pounded on the door intensely.
Indicates extreme, almost overwhelming intensity, often for natural forces or speed.
猛烈な暑さだ。
It's intensely hot.
Means 'powerfully' or 'intensely', often for sensory experiences or impacts.
強烈な光が目を刺した。
An intensely bright light pierced my eyes.
To describe looking, thinking, or working with intense concentration.
For staring or gazing fixedly and intensely, often without moving.
彼女はじっと私を見つめた。
She stared at me intensely.
Means 'with one's whole heart', used for intense concentration on a task.
Literally 'concentrating', used as an adverb to mean 'intensely focused'.
集中して仕事に取り組んだ。
I worked on the task intensely.
To emphasize the extreme degree of an adjective or another adverb.
General intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely', often a natural translation for 'intensely' when modifying adjectives.
非常に難しい問題だ。
It's an intensely difficult problem.
Formal intensifier meaning 'extremely', suitable for written or formal contexts.
Casual intensifier, common in spoken Japanese.
すごく疲れた。
I'm intensely tired.
To describe something that is intensely bright, strong-tasting, or pungent.
For colors that are intensely vivid or bright.
鮮やかな赤い花。
An intensely red flower.
General 'strongly' can be used for tastes and smells.
このカレーは強く香辛料が効いている。
This curry is intensely spiced.
Means 'stimulatingly', used for intensely spicy or pungent sensations.
刺激的な辛さだ。
It's intensely spicy.
The English word 'intensely' is often used as a general intensifier, but directly translating it as 激しく or 強く in all cases can sound unnatural. Consider whether the intended meaning is emotional, physical, or degree-related, and choose the appropriate Japanese adverb.
激しく implies violent, fierce, or turbulent intensity, while 強く is a more general 'strongly'. Use 激しく for anger, storms, or physical violence; use 強く for emotions like love, desire, or determination.
彼女はじっと私を見つめた。
She stared at me intensely.
彼はそのプロジェクトに一心に取り組んだ。
He worked intensely on the project.
太陽が猛烈に暑かった。
The sun was intensely hot.
彼は一心に本を読んでいる。
He is reading a book intensely.
極めて重要な発見だ。
It's an intensely important discovery.