Translation guide
The English adverb 'perfectly' has several distinct uses. It can mean 'in a flawless manner', 'completely' or 'absolutely', and is also used in polite phrases like 'perfectly fine' or 'perfectly understandable'. Japanese expresses these meanings with different adverbs and phrases depending on the nuance.
Describing an action done without any mistakes or in an ideal way.
The most direct equivalent, meaning 'flawlessly' or 'perfectly'. Used for actions performed without error.
彼女はその曲を完璧に演奏した。
She performed the piece perfectly.
Means 'completely' or 'perfectly'. Often overlaps with 'flawlessly' but can also imply totality.
彼はその仕事を完全にこなした。
He handled the job perfectly.
Literally 'without complaint', meaning 'perfectly' or 'flawlessly'. Slightly formal.
準備は申し分なく整った。
The preparations were perfectly in order.
Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb, meaning 'totally' or 'utterly'.
Common adverb meaning 'completely', 'entirely', or 'really'. Often used with negative or positive adjectives.
Also used as an intensifier meaning 'completely' or 'totally'.
彼の説明は完全に間違っている。
His explanation is perfectly wrong.
Means 'very'. In some contexts, 'perfectly' can be translated as 'very' when the meaning is simply emphasis.
Used in phrases like 'perfectly fine' or 'perfectly understandable' to express that something is completely acceptable or reasonable.
Common phrase meaning 'no problem at all' or 'perfectly fine'.
遅れても全く問題ないですよ。
It's perfectly fine if you're late.
Means 'perfectly understandable' or 'completely understandable'.
彼の怒りは十分に理解できる。
His anger is perfectly understandable.
Means 'I don't mind' or 'it's perfectly fine'. Casual to polite depending on form.
どちらでも構いません。
Either is perfectly fine.
Used to stress that someone is fully able to do something.
Pattern meaning 'perfectly capable of doing'. Insert verb in potential form before できる or use することができる.
彼は十分に自分で決断できる。
He is perfectly capable of making his own decisions.
Casual way to say 'perfectly capable' or 'can do it properly'.
彼はちゃんと料理ができるよ。
He's perfectly capable of cooking, you know.
While 完璧に means 'perfectly' in the sense of 'flawlessly', it is not used as a general intensifier like 'perfectly fine' or 'perfectly understandable'. For those, use 全く or 十分に.
Both can mean 'completely', but 全く is more common as an intensifier with adjectives (全く正しい = perfectly correct), while 完全に often implies a state of completeness (完全に終わった = completely finished).
あなたは全く正しい。
You're perfectly right.
計画は完璧にうまくいった。
The plan worked perfectly.
それは十分に理解できる。
That's perfectly understandable.
That sounds perfectly natural.