awfully; extremely; recklessly
Emphatic adverbial/adjectival use meaning 'excessively' or 'recklessly'. Often interchangeable with むちゃくちゃ, but can carry a slightly softer or more childish tone. Used in casual speech.
See also: むちゃくちゃ
It's awfully hot today, isn't it?
He drives recklessly.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal writing.
Reduplication of むちゃ (無茶), which itself is of uncertain origin, possibly from a Chinese-derived term or a sound-symbolic formation. The exact derivation is unclear.