Translation guide
The English word 'very' intensifies adjectives and adverbs. In Japanese, intensification is often expressed through adverbs, prefixes, or by choosing a stronger word. The most common equivalent is とても, but many alternatives exist depending on formality, emotion, and context.
To intensify an adjective or adverb in a neutral or polite way, similar to 'very' in standard English.
The most common and versatile intensifier. Suitable for both spoken and written Japanese, and safe in polite conversation.
This cake is very delicious.
It's very hot today.
Slightly more formal than とても. Often used in business or polite speech. Can also mean 'terribly' or 'awfully'.
Formal and often used in writing or formal speeches. Less common in casual conversation.
To express strong emotion or emphasis in casual conversation, like 'really' or 'so'.
Very common in casual speech. Conveys a sense of 'amazingly' or 'incredibly'. Derived from すごい.
To emphasize a negative quality, like 'very' in 'very bad' or 'very difficult'.
Used with negative verbs or adjectives to mean 'quite' or 'very'. Implies something is more than expected. Often used in the pattern なかなか〜ない.
To intensify an adjective by attaching a prefix, similar to 'very' but more integrated into the word.
Prefix 真っ (まっ) intensifies certain adjectives, especially colors and some states. It means 'completely' or 'very'.
very white snow
To express 'very much' with verbs, like 'like very much' or 'think very much'.
とても can modify verbs expressing emotion, potential, or state, meaning 'very much'.
I was very moved.
To express 'very' in exclamatory sentences, often with a sense of 'how' or 'so'.
Pattern meaning 'how very...!' Expresses strong emotion or surprise.
How very beautiful!
This is very important.
大変お世話になりました。
Thank you very much for your help.
I am very sorry.
非常に重要な問題です。
It's a very important issue.
This movie was very interesting.
すごく楽しかった！
It was very fun!
I'm very tired.
Slang, originally from Kansai dialect but now used nationwide among younger speakers. Very casual.
That's very nice!
It's super cold.
Prefix meaning 'super' or 'ultra'. Very casual, often used by young people.
It's a very difficult problem.
The bus is very late (doesn't come easily).
Means 'too' or 'excessively', often with a negative connotation. Can be used with both positive and negative adjectives but emphasizes the degree.
It's a very terrible story.
It's way too expensive.
真っ暗な道
a very dark road
Prefix 大 (だい) means 'big' or 'great', and intensifies the following word. Common in compounds.
とても助かります。
It helps me very much.
よく can mean 'well' or 'very much' depending on context. With verbs like 知る (know) or 分かる (understand), it means 'very well'.
I understood very well.
I know him very well.
なんて馬鹿なんだ！
How very stupid!
Adding sentence-ending particles ね or よ to とても emphasizes the feeling, like 'very, isn't it?' or 'very, I tell you!'.
It's very pretty, isn't it!
It was very interesting!
I'm so happy! (casual)
I am very pleased. (formal)
In Japanese, some adjectives already contain an intense meaning, so adding とても can sound redundant or unnatural. For example, 素晴らしい (wonderful) already implies a high degree, so とても素晴らしい is less common than just 素晴らしい. Similarly, 大好き (love) already means 'like very much', so とても大好き is incorrect.
Japanese often uses onomatopoeic words to express intensity instead of 'very'. For example, キラキラ (sparkling) already implies 'very shiny'. Learning these can make your Japanese more natural.
I'm very tired.
It's very cold today.