かなり

か

な

り

Meanings

adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

considerably; fairly; quite; rather; pretty

usually written using kana alone

Expresses a degree that is more than expected or more than a little; often used when the speaker feels the extent is notable. Can modify adjectives, verbs, and nouns with な/の.

今日きょうはかなり暑あついですね。
It's quite hot today, isn't it?
彼かれはかなりの努ど力りょく家かだ。
He is a considerably hard worker.
この問もん題だいはかなり難むずかしい。
This problem is fairly difficult.

See all 237 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

かなりの〈数かず〉a considerable amount/number of ~
今日きょうはかなりの人ひとが集あつまった。
A considerable number of people gathered today.
かなり〈動どう詞し〉to do something to a considerable degree
彼かれはかなり頑がん張ばった。
He worked considerably hard.

Kanji

可can, passable, approval
也to be (classical)
成turn into, become, get

Related words· 9

結けっ構こうN5
結構 can mean 'quite/considerably' like かなり, but it also carries an extra nuance of 'surprisingly' or 'more than enough' and can mean 'fine, no thank you' in other contexts, while かなり is a plain degree intensifier.
ずいぶんN4
随分 overlaps with かなり in meaning 'considerably', but 随分 tends to sound more emotive and often implies the speaker's surprise or a long duration, whereas かなり is more neutral.
だいぶN4
だいぶ is very close to かなり in meaning 'considerably', but だいぶ is used especially to describe progress or change (だいぶ良くなった) and feels slightly more casual than かなり.
相そう当とうN3
かなり is a plain adverb for 'considerably', while 相当 can be used the same way but also works as a noun or na-adjective in other senses.

Show 5 more

少すくなからずN1
かなり is a casual, everyday word for 'quite/considerably', while 少なからず is a formal, written-style expression that stresses an unexpectedly large degree or number.
なかなかN5
かなり is a plain degree adverb meaning 'quite/considerably', while なかなか often adds a nuance that something is better, stronger, or more difficult than expected.
よほどN2
かなり means 'considerably' in a neutral way, while 余程 adds a nuance of surprise or 'more than expected'.
めっきりN2
かなり simply means 'quite' or 'fairly' without any implication of change over time, while めっきり specifically marks a noticeable shift from a previous state.
割わりとN2
かなり expresses a stronger or more definite degree than 割と, which implies a milder, more casual sense of 'fairly'.

Written forms

かなりUsage99%
Standard modern spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
カナリUsage<1%
可かなりUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not a practical modern spelling.
可か成なりUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not a practical modern spelling.
可か也なり
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.
可か成なり
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adjective かなり (kanari), meaning 'appropriate' or 'suitable'. The adverbial use developed from the sense of something being 'to a suitable extent', which then shifted to mean 'to a considerable extent'.