Translation guide
The English adverb 'literally' has two main uses: emphasizing that something is true in a strict sense (not exaggerated), and as an intensifier for emphasis (often in informal speech). Japanese expresses these differently, and there is no single direct equivalent.
You want to stress that something is true exactly as stated, without exaggeration or metaphor.
He literally exploded with anger. · The city was literally flattened by the earthquake. · I'm not exaggerating; I literally saw a ghost.
The most direct equivalent, meaning 'to the letter' or 'in the literal sense'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼の言ったことを文字通りに受け取ってはいけない。
Don't take what he said literally.
その町は文字通り破壊された。
The town was literally destroyed.
Often used to emphasize factual truth, similar to 'really' or 'truly'. Can overlap with 'literally' when stressing actual occurrence.
本当に一晩中起きていた。
I was literally awake all night.
Conveys 'exactly' or 'precisely', often used when something matches a description perfectly. Can substitute for 'literally' in some contexts.
それはまさに私が言いたかったことだ。
That's literally what I wanted to say.
Means 'verbatim' or 'word-for-word'. Used in formal or academic contexts, such as translation or transcription.
彼のスピーチを逐語的に翻訳した。
I translated his speech literally (word-for-word).
You want to add strong emphasis, often in casual speech, similar to 'really' or 'absolutely'. This use is often hyperbolic.
I literally died laughing. · She literally has a million shoes. · It's literally freezing outside.
The most common and natural way to intensify a statement in Japanese. Works in almost all informal contexts.
本当に死ぬほど疲れた。
I'm literally dead tired.
その映画、本当に最高だった。
That movie was literally the best.
Very common casual/slang intensifier, similar to 'seriously' or 'for real'. Often used by younger speakers.
マジで泣きそうになった。
I literally almost cried.
Prefix meaning 'super' or 'ultra'. Used as an intensifier, especially in casual speech. Can replace 'literally' in hyperbolic statements.
超おもしろかった！
It was literally hilarious!
Can be used for emphasis when something is a perfect example, but less common as a general intensifier.
When 'literally' is used as an intensifier in English (e.g., 'I literally died'), translating it as 文字通り would sound unnatural or confusing in Japanese. Use intensifiers like 本当に or マジで instead.
文字通り死んだ。
I literally died. (unnatural unless you actually died)
文字通り is for factual, non-figurative statements. 本当に is for emphasis and can be used in both factual and hyperbolic contexts. When in doubt, 本当に is safer for casual intensification.
These are very informal and should be avoided in formal situations. マジで can sound masculine or rough; 超 is more neutral but still casual. In polite conversation, stick to 本当に.
その翻訳は文字通りすぎる。
The translation is too literal.
Using 文字通り to mean 'literal' in the sense of word-for-word.
It was literally a day from hell.