相当

• Reading: そうとう
• Romaji: soutou
• Kanji breakdown: 相 (sou) — mutual, each other; 当 (tou) — hit, correspond
• Pronunciation: /soː.toː/

Meaning

Considerably; fairly; quite. Also means to correspond to or be equivalent to something.

Functions as an adverb (相当 + adjective/verb), a suru verb (に相当する, to correspond to), and a no-adjective. As an adverb, it emphasizes degree — stronger than かなり. As a verb, it expresses equivalence: 一万円に相当する (equivalent to 10,000 yen). Very versatile across formal and casual speech.

Examples

1. 今日の試験は相当難しかったらしい。 I heard today's exam was pretty tough.
2. この金額は日本円で五万円に相当する。 This amount is equivalent to fifty thousand yen in Japanese currency.
3. 彼は相当な努力をして合格した。 He passed through considerable effort.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, business, academic

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of 相 (sou, mutual) and 当 (tou, to hit/correspond). Together, 'mutually corresponding' — things that match or measure up to each other.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal