Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

断然 (だんぜん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

断だん然ぜん

だ

ん

ぜ

ん

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

adverb, taru-adjective

firmly; resolutely; absolutely

Expresses a strong, unwavering attitude or decision. Often used with verbs like 断る, 拒否する, 主張する, or 反対する.

彼かれはその申

もう

し

出で

を

断だん

然ぜん

断ことわ

っ

た

。

He flatly refused the offer.

社しゃ長ちょうはその計けい画かくに断だん然ぜん反はん対たいした。

The president was resolutely opposed to the plan.

2

definitely; absolutely

Used before adjectives or verbs to emphasize that something is clearly wrong, different, or not the case. Common in negative or contrastive contexts.

このやり方かたは断だん然ぜん間ま違ちがっている。
This way is definitely wrong.
彼かれの意い見けんは私わたしのとは断だん然ぜん違ちがう。
His opinion is absolutely different from mine.

3

by far; far and away; hands down

Used in comparisons to indicate a clear, overwhelming superiority or difference. Often paired with 一番, 最も, or comparative expressions.

この店みせのラーメンが断だん然ぜんおいしい。
This shop's ramen is by far the best.
彼かれはクラスで断だん然ぜん一いち番ばん足あしが速はやい。
He is hands down the fastest runner in the class.

Usage patterns

断だん然ぜん〈動どう詞し〉to firmly/absolutely do something (refuse, reject, insist, oppose)
彼かの女じょはその申もうし出でを断だん然ぜん拒きょ否ひした。
She flatly refused the offer.
断だん然ぜん〈形けい容よう詞し〉definitely/absolutely (wrong, different) — used to emphasize a clear contrast
それは断だん然ぜんおかしい。
That is definitely strange.
〈物もの〉のほうが断だん然ぜん〈形けい容よう詞し〉X is by far more ~ (in a comparison)
新あたらしいスマホのほうが断だん然ぜん使つかいやすい。
The new smartphone is far easier to use.
断だん然ぜん一いち番ばんby far the best/number one
この店みせのラーメンが断だん然ぜん一いち番ばんおいしい。
This shop's ramen is by far the best.

Kanji

断severance, decline, refuse
然sort of thing, so, if so

Related words· 7

絶ぜっ対たいN4
絶対 expresses an unconditional, universal certainty or prohibition, while 断然 conveys a strong personal stance or a clear comparative difference.
断だん固こN1sense 1
断固 and 断然 both describe firm, unwavering resolve, but 断固 is more formal and typically pairs with 拒否・反対 in written or official contexts.
きっぱりN2sense 1
きっぱり is a more colloquial, mimetic word for a clear-cut refusal or statement, whereas 断然 sounds slightly more formal in the same sense.
圧あっ倒とう的てき sense 3
圧倒的 describes an overwhelming margin in a comparison, much like 断然 in its 'by far' sense, but 圧倒的 is used as an adjectival noun (圧倒的に) rather than a plain adverb.

Show 3 more

はるかに sense 3
遥かに and 断然 both mean 'by far' in comparisons, but 遥かに focuses on the degree of difference while 断然 emphasizes the clarity of superiority.
ダントツ
断然 is the standard adverb meaning 'decisively' or 'by far', while ダントツ is the slangy noun/na-adjective form that specifically highlights an overwhelming lead over everyone else.
絶ぜっ対たいにN3
断然 emphasizes a decisive, by-far difference or determination (often before comparisons), while 絶対に stresses unconditional certainty or firm refusal.

Written forms

断だん然ぜんUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general use.
ダンゼンUsage2%
だんぜんUsage1%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji is not needed.

Etymology

The kanji 断 (cut off, decide) and 然 (state, like) combine to form a word meaning 'decisively' or 'clearly'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of firmness and clarity.