甚
tremendously, very, great, exceedingly
Readings
On'yomi
- ジン
Kun'yomi
- はなは.だ
- はなは.だしい
Nanori
- じ
Meaning
甚 centers on an extreme degree: something tremendously great, very much, or exceedingly so. It intensifies whatever it describes.
Most common words using 甚
- 甚大じんだい
very great; enormous; serious
- 甚だしいはなはだしいN2
extreme; excessive; terrible; intense; severe; serious; tremendous; heavy (damage)
- 甚だはなはだN1
very; greatly; extremely; exceedingly; highly; quite
- 甚平じんべい
light cotton summer clothing consisting of knee-length shorts and short-sleeved jacket
- 甚振るいたぶる
to torment; to harass; to tease
- 激甚げきじん
intense; violent; severe; vehement
- 甚兵衛じんべえ
light cotton summer clothing consisting of knee-length shorts and short-sleeved jacket
- 幸甚こうじん
being extremely grateful; being much obliged; being very appreciative; being very happy
- 甚句じんく
jinku; lively Japanese folk song or dance tune
- 深甚しんじん
profound (respect, gratitude, etc.); deep; careful (consideration)
- 深甚なるしんじんなる
profound (respect, gratitude, etc.); deep; careful (consideration)
- 激甚災害げきじんさいがい
major disaster (that necessitates economic support to its victims); serious disaster; catastrophe
- 甚だ以てはなはだもって
exceedingly
- 甚六じんろく
dunce; blockhead
- 甚寒じんかん
intense cold
- 甚深じんしん
extremely deep (i.e. profound)
- 相撲甚句すもうじんく
sumo-themed song; song sung at sumo events
- 総領の甚六そうりょうのじんろく
first born, least clever
Study
Etymology
甚 is thought to combine 甘 (sweet) with 匹 (pair/match), suggesting an excess of sweetness or pleasure that becomes extreme. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 甘 looks like a container of something sweet, and the bottom 匹 suggests a matched pair. Imagine a pair of overflowing sweet jars: the amount is tremendously great.
Reading mnemonic
For ジン, picture a ginormous jar of sweets: gin -> ジン, and the jar is exceedingly full.