Translation guide
The English word "very" intensifies adjectives and adverbs. In Japanese, intensification is often expressed through adverbs, prefixes, or special adjective forms. The most common equivalent is とても, but many other options exist depending on formality, degree, and collocation.
Express that something is very [adjective] in a neutral or formal context.
The most common and versatile intensifier. Suitable for most situations, from casual to formal.
このケーキはとてもおいしいです。
This cake is very delicious.
今日はとても暑い。
It's very hot today.
More formal and emphatic than とても. Common in writing and formal speech.
この問題は非常に難しい。
This problem is very difficult.
Formal, often used in business or polite contexts. Can also mean 'terrible' as a noun, but as an adverb it means 'very'.
大変お世話になりました。
Thank you very much for your help.
Express 'very' in casual conversation with more emotion.
Very common in casual speech. Derived from すごい (amazing).
すごく楽しかった！
It was really fun!
このラーメン、すごくおいしい。
This ramen is really good.
Very casual, slangy. Common among younger speakers, originally from Kansai dialect.
めっちゃ疲れた。
I'm super tired.
Prefix meaning 'super' or 'ultra'. Very casual, often used by young people.
超かわいい！
Super cute!
Intensify a negative adjective like 'not good', 'not interesting'.
Used with negative verbs/adjectives to mean 'not very'. あまり良くない = not very good.
この映画はあまり面白くなかった。
This movie wasn't very interesting.
Often used in negative sentences to mean 'not that much' or 'not very'. More conversational.
Attach a prefix to an adjective to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.
Use the て-form of an adjective to mean 'very' in a more emotive way.
Reduplicating the て-form of an adjective can intensify it. 怖くて怖くて = so scared, very scared.
嬉しくて嬉しくてたまらない。
I'm so happy I can't stand it.
While とても is safe, using it too much can sound stiff. In casual conversation, すごく or めっちゃ are more natural.
すごくいいね！
That's really great!
とても is for positive statements, あまり is for negative statements. とてもおいしい (very delicious) vs あまりおいしくない (not very delicious).
そんなに高くないよ。
It's not that expensive.