殊ことに

こ

と

に

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

Used to single out something as notably different or extreme, often in a positive or negative sense. Can modify adjectives, verbs, or whole clauses.

今日きょうは殊ことに寒さむい

。

It's especially cold today.

彼かれは殊ことに数すう学がくが得とく意いだ。

He is particularly good at math.

2

adverb

additionally; moreover

archaic

Archaic use meaning 'in addition' or 'furthermore'. Not used in modern Japanese; encountered only in classical texts.

古こ典てんでは「殊ことに」が「さらに」の意い味みで使つかわれることがある。
In classical texts, 殊に can be used to mean 'additionally'.

Usage patterns

〈時とき〉は殊ことに〈形けい容よう詞し〉at a particular time, something is especially [adjective]
夏なつは殊ことに暑あつい日ひが続つづく。
In summer, especially hot days continue.
殊ことに〈事こと〉が目め立だつa particular thing stands out especially
今こん年ねんは殊ことに円えん安やすの影えい響きょうが目め立だつ。
This year, the effect of the weak yen stands out especially.

Kanji

殊particularly, especially, exceptionally
異uncommon, different, queerness

Related words

特とくにN5sense 1
特に is the everyday, neutral word for 'especially', while 殊に is more formal or literary and can add a nuance of 'unusually'.
取とり分わけN1sense 1
とりわけ is colloquial and typically singles out one item from a group, whereas 殊に is more literary and can modify whole states or clauses.
特とく段だん
殊に is a somewhat literary adverb meaning 'especially,' close in feel to the adverbial sense of 特段 but with a more classical tone.

Written forms

殊ことにUsage91%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
ことにUsage9%
Kana spelling is common and avoids potential confusion with other kanji readings.
異ことに
Rare alternative kanji spelling; not commonly used in modern writing.

Etymology

Derived from the adverbial form of the classical adjective 異 (こと, 'different, special') + particle に. The kanji 殊 carries the meaning 'particularly, especially'.