わざわざ

わ

ざ

わ

ざ

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

adverb

taking the trouble to do; going out of one's way to do

usually written using kana alone

Expresses that someone makes a special effort or goes to the trouble of doing something, often implying it was not strictly necessary. Can carry a nuance of gratitude or mild reproach depending on context.

わざわざ駅えきまで迎むかえに来きてくれてありがとう

。

Thank you for going out of your way to pick me up at the station.

彼かれはわざわざ遠とおい店みせまで買かいに行いった。

He went to the trouble of going all the way to a distant shop to buy it.

adverb

intentionally; deliberately; on purpose

usually written using kana alone

Indicates a deliberate, intentional action, often with a negative or critical nuance. Used when someone does something they know is unnecessary or inappropriate.

彼かれはわざわざ嫌いやなことを言いった。
He deliberately said something unpleasant.
わざわざそんなことをする必ひつ要ようはない。
There's no need to go out of your way to do something like that.

Usage patterns

わざわざ〈動どう詞し〉てくれるto kindly go out of one's way to do something (for someone)
わざわざ駅えきまで迎むかえに来きてくれてありがとう。
Thank you for taking the trouble to come pick me up at the station.
わざわざ〈場ば所しょ〉まで行いくto go all the way to a place, taking special trouble
田た中なかさんはわざわざ大おお阪さかから来きた。
Mr. Tanaka went out of his way to come all the way from Osaka.
わざわざ〈事こと〉する必ひつ要ようはないthere's no need to go to the trouble of doing something
わざわざ電でん話わする必ひつ要ようはないよ、メールで十じゅう分ぶんだ。
There's no need to bother calling; an email is enough.
わざわざ〈動どう詞し〉ようなことをするto deliberately do something (often unwise or provocative)
彼かれはわざわざ人ひとを怒おこらせるようなことを言いう。
He deliberately says things that provoke people.

Kanji

態attitude, condition, figure

Related words

せっかくN3sense 1
わざわざ focuses on the extra effort or trouble taken to do something, while せっかく emphasizes the value of that effort and often the regret if it goes to waste.
故こ意いに sense 2
故意に is a formal, often legal term for 'intentionally' that usually implies wrongdoing, whereas わざわざ in its deliberate sense is more everyday and can be neutral or even positive.
あえてN2sense 2
敢えて means to dare or venture to do something despite difficulty or risk, while わざわざ stresses the unnecessary trouble taken rather than courage.

Don't confuse with

わざとN3sense 2
わざわざ implies going out of one's way or making a special effort (often unnecessary), while わざと simply means 'on purpose' with no sense of extra trouble taken.

Written forms

わざわざUsage99%
Usually written in kana. The kanji forms 態々 and 態態 are rare and not recommended for general use.
ワザワザUsage1%
態わざ々わざUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
態わざ態わざ
rarely-used kanji form

Etymology

Derived from the reduplication of 態 (waza, 'intentional act'), with the meaning of doing something deliberately or with special effort. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has been used as an adverb since at least the Edo period.

Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.