ずいぶん

ず

い

ぶ

ん

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

very; extremely; quite; considerably

usually written using kana alone

Adverb expressing a high degree, often with a nuance of surprise or unexpectedness. Used with adjectives, verbs, and nouns.

ずいぶん大おおきくなったね。
You've grown so much!

ずいぶん待まったけど、彼かれは来こなかった。

I waited quite a while, but he didn't come.

2

na-adjective

terrible; horrid; contemptible

usually written using kana alone

Adjectival use expressing strong negative judgment about a person or situation. Often used with だ/な.

そんなことを言いうなんて、ずいぶんだね。
That's a terrible thing to say.

3

na-adjective

remarkable; extraordinary

usually written using kana alone

Adjectival use expressing strong positive or neutral surprise at something outstanding. Less common than the adverbial sense.

彼かれの才さい能のうはずいぶんなものだ。
His talent is truly remarkable.

Written forms

ずいぶんUsage70%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 随分 is also used but less common.
随ずい分ぶんUsage28%
Kanji form; recognized but less common than kana.
ずい分ぶんUsage2%
search-only kanji form
Search-only mixed kanji-kana form.
ズイブンUsage<1%
隨ずい分ぶんUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kyūjitai form.

Kanji

随follow, though, notwithstanding
分part, minute of time, segment
隨at the mercy of (the waves)

Similar words

とても
とても is a more neutral intensifier without the nuance of surprise or unexpectedness that ずいぶん often carries.
かなり
かなり also means 'considerably', but is more objective and less emotive than ずいぶん.

Etymology

Derived from the kanji 随 (follow, comply) and 分 (part, portion), originally meaning 'according to one's part/status'. The modern adverbial and adjectival uses developed from this idea of 'to a considerable extent'.