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Japanese Adverbs for N4-N3
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences in Japanese.
N4 Adverbs
| No. | Adverb | Meaning | Example | Meaning |
| 1 | よく (yoku) | often; well | わたしは よく 本を読みます。 Watashi wa yoku hon o yomimasu. |
I often read books. |
| 2 | ときどき (tokidoki) | sometimes | ときどき 映画を見ます。 Tokidoki eiga o mimasu. |
I sometimes watch movies. |
| 3 | あまり (amari) | not much; not very | あまり おなかが すいていません。 Amari onaka ga suite imasen. |
I’m not very hungry. |
| 4 | ぜんぜん (zenzen) | not at all; not in the least | ぜんぜん わかりません。 Zenzen wakarimasen. |
I don’t understand at all. |
| 5 | もう (mō) | already; no longer | もう 食べました。 Mō tabemashita. |
I have already eaten. (I’m full.) |
| 6 | まだ (mada) | not yet; still | まだ 終わって いません。 Mada owatte imasen. |
It isn’t finished yet. |
| 7 | いつも (itsumo) | always | いつも 7時に 起きます。 Itsumo shichi-ji ni okimasu. |
I always get up at 7 o’clock. |
| 8 | わりと (warito) | fairly; rather | このレストランは わりと 安いです。 Kono resutoran wa warito yasui desu. |
This restaurant is fairly cheap. |
| 9 | すぐに (suguni) | immediately; right away | すぐに 行きます。 Suguni ikimasu. |
I will go right away. |
| 10 | 本当に (hontō ni) | really; truly | 本当に ありがとう ございます。 Hontō ni arigatō gozaimasu. |
Thank you very much (= really). |
N3 Adverbs
| No. | Adverb | Meaning | Example | Meaning |
| 1 | かなり (kanari) | considerably; quite | このカメラは かなり 高いです。 Kono kamera wa kanari takai desu. |
This camera is quite expensive. |
| 2 | むしろ (mushiro) | rather; instead | 今日は 寒いです。むしろ、冬のようです。 Kyō wa samui desu. Mushiro, fuyu no yō desu. |
It’s cold today. Rather, (it feels like) winter. |
| 3 | さっそく (sassoku) | without delay; immediately | さっそく 返事を 書きました。 Sassoku henji o kakimashita. |
I wrote a reply immediately. |
| 4 | めったに (mettani) | rarely; hardly ever | 彼は めったに 休みません。 Kare wa mettani yasumimasen. |
He hardly ever takes a day off. |
| 5 | むやみに (muyami ni) | recklessly; without reason | むやみに 心配しないで ください。 Muyami ni shinpai shinaide kudasai. |
Please don’t worry without reason. |
| 6 | しっかり (shikkari) | firmly; thoroughly | しっかり 勉強して ください。 Shikkari benkyō shite kudasai. |
Please study thoroughly. |
| 7 | だいたい (daitai) | generally; roughly; almost | だいたい 2時間ぐらい かかります。 | It takes about two hours. |
| 8 | ずいぶん (zuibun) | very much; considerably | ずいぶん 上手に なりましたね。 Zuibun jōzu ni narimashita ne. |
You have become much better. |
| 9 | あえて (aete) | on purpose; daringly (to achieve something) | あえて 難しい 仕事に 挑戦した。 Aete muzukashii shigoto ni chōsen shita. |
I dared to take on a difficult job. |
| 10 | かえって (kaette) | on the contrary; instead | 速く 行こうと したが、かえって 遅く なった。 Hayaku ikō to shita ga, kaette osoku natta. |
I tried to go faster, but instead I became late. |
Tips:
– Adverbs usually come before the verb or the adjective they modify.
– Placement: [Subject] + [Adverb] + [Verb / Adjective] (e.g., わたしは とても うれしいです。 Watashi wa totemo ureshii desu.)
Note:
Some adverbs can also modify the whole sentence and are placed at the beginning.
Example:
本当に、うれしいです。
Hontō ni, ureshii desu.
I am truly happy.
Related Post:
100 Basic Japanese Adverbs
10 Japanese N3 Adverbs You Should Know
